Aim:

To examine the expression and regulation of integral membrane protein 2b (Itm2b) in rat male reproductive tissues during sexual maturation and under different treatments by in situ hybridization.

Methods:

Testis, epididymis, and vas deferens were collected on days 1-70 to examine Itm2b expression during sexual maturation. To further examine the regulation of Itm2b, adult rats underwent surgical castration and cryptorchidism. Ethylene dimethane sulfonate and busulfan treatments were carried out to test the regulation of Itm2b after destruction of Leydig cells and germ cells.

Results:

In testis, Itm2b expression was moderately detected in the adluminal area of seminiferous cords on days 1-10, and detected at a low level in the spermatogonia on days 20 and 30. The Itm2b level was markedly increased in Leydig cells from day 20 to day 70. In epididymis and vas deferens, Itm2b was detected from neonate to adults, and the signal gradually increased in accordance with sexual maturation. Itm2b expression was significantly downregulated in epididymis and vas deferens of castrated rats, and strongly stimulated when castrated rats were treated with testosterone. Cryptorchidism led to a significant decline of Itm2b expression in testis and caput epididymis. Itm2b expression in epididymis and vas deferens was significantly decreased after the Leydig cells were destroyed by ethylene dimethane sulfonate. Busulfan treatment produced no obvious change in Itm2b expression in epididymis or vas deferens.

Conclusion:

Our data suggested that Itm2b expression is upregulated by testosterone and might play a role in rat male reproduction.

References

1. Pittois K, Deleersnijder W, Merregaert J. cDNA sequence analysis, chromosomal assignment and expression pattern of the gene coding for integral membrane protein 2B. Gene 1998; 217: 141–9. | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
2. Choi SC, Kim J, Kim TH, Cho SY, Park SS, Kim KD, et al. Cloning and characterization of a type II integral transmembrane protein gene, Itm2c, that is highly expressed in the mouse brain. Mol Cells 2001; 12: 391–7. | PubMed | ChemPort |
3. Deleersnijder W, Hong G, Cortvrindt R, Poirier C, Tylzanowski P, Pittois K, et al. Isolation of markers for chondro-osteogenic differentiation using cDNA library subtraction - molecular cloning and characterization of a gene belonging to a novel multigene family of integral membrane proteins. J Biol Chem 1996; 271: 19475–82. | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
4. Pickford F, Onstead L, Camacho-Prihar C, Hardy J, McGowan E. Expression of mBRI2 in mice. Neurosci Lett 2003; 338: 95–8. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
5. Revesz T, Holton JL, Lashley T, Plant G, Rostagno A, Ghiso J, et al. Sporadic and familial cerebral amyloid angiopathies. Brain Pathol 2002; 12: 343–57. | PubMed |
6. Matsuda S, Giliberto L, Matsuda Y, Davies P, McGowan E, Pickford F, et al. The familial dementia BRI2 gene binds the Alzheimer's gene amyloid- precursor protein and inhibits amyloid- production. J Biol Chem 2005; 280: 28912–6. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
7. Latil A, Chene L, Mangin P, Fournier G, Berthon P, Cussenot O. Extensive analysis of the 13q14 region in human prostate tumors: DNA analysis and quantitative expression of genes lying in the interval of deletion. Prostate 2003; 57: 39–50. | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
8. Schrepferman CG, Lester DR, Sandlow JI. Testicular amyloid deposition as a cause of secondary azoospermia. Urology 2000; 55: 145. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
9. Shoji M, Kawarabayashi T, Harigaya Y, Yamaguchi H, Hirai S, Kamimura T, et al. Alzheimer amyloid beta-protein precursor in sperm development. Am J Pathol 1990; 137: 1027–32. | PubMed | ChemPort |
10. Fardilha M, Vieira SI, Barros A, Sousa M, Da Cruz E Silva OA, Da Cruz E Silva EF. Differential distribution of Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein family variants in human sperm. Ann NY Acad Sci 2007; 1096: 196–206. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
11. Fotinopoulou A, Tsachaki M, Vlavaki M, Poulopoulos A, Rostagno A, Frangione B, et al. BRI2 interacts with amyloid precursor protein (APP) and regulates amyloid beta (Abeta) production. J Biol Chem 2005; 280: 30768–72. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
12. Shikone T, Billig H, Hsueh AJW. Experimentally induced cryptorchidism increases apoptosis in rat testis. Biol Reprod 1994; 51: 865–72. | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
13. Kumagai A, Kodama H, Kumagai J, Fukuda J, Kawamura K, Tanikawa H, et al. Xanthine oxidase inhibitors suppress testicular germ cell apoptosis induced by experimental cryptorchidism. Mol Hum Reprod 2002; 8: 118–23. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
14. Jackson AE, O'Leary PC, Ayers MM, de Kretser DM. The effects of ethylene dimethane sulphonate (EDS) on rat Leydig cells: evidence to support a connective tissue origin of Leydig cells. Biol Reprod 1986; 35: 425–37. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
15. Jonsson CK, Zetterstrom RH, Holst H, Parvinen M, Soder O. Constitutive expression of interleukin–1á messenger ribonucleic acid in rat Sertoli cells is dependent upon interaction with germ cells. Endocrinology 1999; 140: 3755–61. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
16. Ariyaratne HB, Mills N, Mason JI, Mendis-Handagama SM. Effects of thyroid hormone on Leydig cell regeneration in the adult rat following ethane dimethane sulphonate treatment. Biol Reprod 2000; 63: 1115–23. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
17. Ma XH, Hu SJ, Ni H, Zhao YC, Tian Z, Liu JL, et al. Serial analysis of gene expression in mouse uterus at the implantation site. J Biol Chem 2006; 281: 9351–60. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
18. Seethalakshmi L, Rodriguez-Rigau LJ, Steinberger A. Testosterone metabolism by proximal and distal regions of the vas deferens from immature and mature rats. Biol Reprod 1982; 26: 584–90. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
19. Robaire B, Viger RS. Regulation of epididymal epithelial cell functions. Biol Reprod 1995; 52: 226–36. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
20. Calixto JB, Rae GA. Influence of castration of the neonatal rat on the pharmacological reactivity of the isolated vas deferens. Biol Reprod 1981; 25: 481–6. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
21. Fan X, Robaire B. Orchidectomy induces a wave of apoptotic cell death in the epididymis. Endocrinology 1998; 139: 2128–36. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
22. Chauvin TR, Griswold MD. Androgen-regulated genes in the murine epididymis. Biol Reprod 2004; 71: 560–9. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
23. Robaire B, Seenundun S, Hamzeh M, Lamour SA. Androgenic regulation of novel genes in the epididymis. Asian J Androl 2007; 9: 545–53. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
24. Fouchecourt S, Lareyre JJ, Chaurand P, Dague BB, Suzuki K, Ong DE, et al. Identification, immunolocalization, regulation, and postnatal development of the lipocalin EP17 (epididymal protein of 17 kilodaltons) in the mouse and rat epididymis. Endocrinology 2003; 144: 887–900. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
25. Hess RA. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the stages and transitions in the cycle of the rat seminiferous epithelium: light microscopic observations of perfusion-fixed and plastic-embedded testes. Biol Reprod 1990; 43: 525–42. | Article | PubMed | ISI | ChemPort |
26. Haider SG. Cell biology of Leydig cells in the testis. Int Rev Cytol 2004; 233: 181–241. | PubMed | ChemPort |
27. Zhu H, Ma H, Ni H, Ma XH, Mills N, Yang ZM. Expression and regulation of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase in rat testis and epididymis. Biol Reprod 2004; 70: 1088–95. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
28. Yang ZW, Kong LS, Guo Y, Yin JQ, Mills N. Histological changes of the testis and epididymis in adult rats as a result of Leydig cell destruction after ethane dimethane sulfonate treatment: a morphometric study. Asian J Androl 2006; 8: 289–99. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |
29. Hochereau-de-Reviers MT, Viguier-Martinez MC, Perreau C. Effects of supplementation with impuberal or adult testicular protein extracts on genital tract and testicular histology as well as hormonal levels in adult busulfan treated rats. Andrologia 1982; 14: 297–305. | PubMed | ChemPort |
30. Morris ID, Bardin CW, Musto NA, Thau R, Gunsalus GL. Androgen binding protein in serum, testis and epididymis following treatment with the Leydig cell cytotoxic agent, ethylene dimethane sulphonate. Int J Androl 1988; 11: 153–63. | Article | PubMed | ChemPort |

MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS

These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.