Unexpected role of α-fetoprotein in spermatogenesis.

<h4>Background</h4>Heat shock severely affects sperm production (spermatogenesis) and results in a rapid loss of haploid germ cells, or in other words, sperm formation (spermiogenesis) is inhibited. However, the mechanisms behind the effects of heat shock on spermatogenesis are obscure.&...

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Autores principales:	Futoshi Yazama, Akihiro Tai
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/49de893cced34d049a1706cc0f14a5a2
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:49de893cced34d049a1706cc0f14a5a22021-11-18T06:54:28ZUnexpected role of α-fetoprotein in spermatogenesis.1932-620310.1371/journal.pone.0019387https://doaj.org/article/49de893cced34d049a1706cc0f14a5a22011-05-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/21573244/pdf/?tool=EBIhttps://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203<h4>Background</h4>Heat shock severely affects sperm production (spermatogenesis) and results in a rapid loss of haploid germ cells, or in other words, sperm formation (spermiogenesis) is inhibited. However, the mechanisms behind the effects of heat shock on spermatogenesis are obscure.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>To identify the inhibitory factor of spermiogenesis, experimental cryptorchid (EC) mice were used in this study. Here we show that α-fetoprotein (AFP) is specifically expressed in the testes of EC mice by proteome analysis. AFP was also specifically localized spermatocytes by immunohistochemical analysis and was secreted into the circulation system of EC mice by immunoblot analysis. Since spermatogenesis of an advanced mammal cannot be reproduced with in vitro, we performed the microinjection of AFP into the seminiferous tubules of normal mice to determine whether AFP inhibits spermiogenesis in vivo. AFP was directly responsible for the block in spermiogenesis of normal mice. To investigate whether AFP inhibits cell differentiation in other models, using EC mice we performed a partial hepatectomy (PH) that triggers a rapid regenerative response in the remnant liver tissue. We also found that liver regeneration is inhibited in EC mice with PH. The result suggests that AFP released into the blood of EC mice regulates liver regeneration by inhibiting the cell division of hepatocytes.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>AFP is a well-known cancer-specific marker, but AFP has no known function in healthy human beings. Our findings indicate that AFP expressed under EC conditions plays a role as a regulatory factor in spermatogenesis and in hepatic generation.Futoshi YazamaAkihiro TaiPublic Library of Science (PLoS)articleMedicineRScienceQENPLoS ONE, Vol 6, Iss 5, p e19387 (2011)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Futoshi Yazama Akihiro Tai Unexpected role of α-fetoprotein in spermatogenesis.
description	<h4>Background</h4>Heat shock severely affects sperm production (spermatogenesis) and results in a rapid loss of haploid germ cells, or in other words, sperm formation (spermiogenesis) is inhibited. However, the mechanisms behind the effects of heat shock on spermatogenesis are obscure.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>To identify the inhibitory factor of spermiogenesis, experimental cryptorchid (EC) mice were used in this study. Here we show that α-fetoprotein (AFP) is specifically expressed in the testes of EC mice by proteome analysis. AFP was also specifically localized spermatocytes by immunohistochemical analysis and was secreted into the circulation system of EC mice by immunoblot analysis. Since spermatogenesis of an advanced mammal cannot be reproduced with in vitro, we performed the microinjection of AFP into the seminiferous tubules of normal mice to determine whether AFP inhibits spermiogenesis in vivo. AFP was directly responsible for the block in spermiogenesis of normal mice. To investigate whether AFP inhibits cell differentiation in other models, using EC mice we performed a partial hepatectomy (PH) that triggers a rapid regenerative response in the remnant liver tissue. We also found that liver regeneration is inhibited in EC mice with PH. The result suggests that AFP released into the blood of EC mice regulates liver regeneration by inhibiting the cell division of hepatocytes.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>AFP is a well-known cancer-specific marker, but AFP has no known function in healthy human beings. Our findings indicate that AFP expressed under EC conditions plays a role as a regulatory factor in spermatogenesis and in hepatic generation.
format	article
author	Futoshi Yazama Akihiro Tai
author_facet	Futoshi Yazama Akihiro Tai
author_sort	Futoshi Yazama
title	Unexpected role of α-fetoprotein in spermatogenesis.
title_short	Unexpected role of α-fetoprotein in spermatogenesis.
title_full	Unexpected role of α-fetoprotein in spermatogenesis.
title_fullStr	Unexpected role of α-fetoprotein in spermatogenesis.
title_full_unstemmed	Unexpected role of α-fetoprotein in spermatogenesis.
title_sort	unexpected role of α-fetoprotein in spermatogenesis.
publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
publishDate	2011
url	https://doaj.org/article/49de893cced34d049a1706cc0f14a5a2
work_keys_str_mv	AT futoshiyazama unexpectedroleofafetoproteininspermatogenesis AT akihirotai unexpectedroleofafetoproteininspermatogenesis
_version_	1718424226877145088

Unexpected role of α-fetoprotein in spermatogenesis.

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