The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and role of c-Flip long isoform (c-FlipL), a known anti-apoptotic protein. No data are currently available on c-FlipL in male gonad before puberty; therefore, this study was carried out in prepuberal mouse testis. We investigated pachytene spermatocytes and spermatogonia by immunostaining of testis sections and found a strong and specific expression of c-FlipL in pachytene spermatocytes, while spermatogonia expressed very low levels of c-FlipL. This finding inversely correlated with the caspases activity, which was higher in spermatogonia as compared to pachytene spermatocytes. Other experiments carried out in an organ-culture model revealed that Fas-induced apoptosis was higher in spermatogonia as compared to pachytene spermatocytes. These data suggest that c-FlipL may play a role as an anti-apoptotic molecule in the prepuberal mouse testis and open new perspectives in the comprehension of the mechanisms controlling germ cells apoptosis.
Giampietri, C., Petrungaro, S., Coluccia, P., D'Alessio, A., Starace, D., Riccioli, A., Padula, F., Palombi, F., Ziparo, E., Filippini, A., De Cesaris, P., Germ cell apoptosis control during spermatogenesis, <<CONTRACEPTION>>, 2005; 72 (4): 298-302. [doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2005.04.011] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/13530]
Germ cell apoptosis control during spermatogenesis
D'Alessio, Alessio;
2005
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and role of c-Flip long isoform (c-FlipL), a known anti-apoptotic protein. No data are currently available on c-FlipL in male gonad before puberty; therefore, this study was carried out in prepuberal mouse testis. We investigated pachytene spermatocytes and spermatogonia by immunostaining of testis sections and found a strong and specific expression of c-FlipL in pachytene spermatocytes, while spermatogonia expressed very low levels of c-FlipL. This finding inversely correlated with the caspases activity, which was higher in spermatogonia as compared to pachytene spermatocytes. Other experiments carried out in an organ-culture model revealed that Fas-induced apoptosis was higher in spermatogonia as compared to pachytene spermatocytes. These data suggest that c-FlipL may play a role as an anti-apoptotic molecule in the prepuberal mouse testis and open new perspectives in the comprehension of the mechanisms controlling germ cells apoptosis.
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