Cryptorchidism and scrotal heating result in abnormal spermatogenesis but the mechanism(s) proscribing this temperature sensitivity are unknown. It was previously reported that the AKR/N or MRL/MpJ-+/+ mouse testis is more heat resistant than the testis from the C57BL/6 strain. We have attempted to probe into the mechanism(s) involved in heat sensitivity by examining global gene expression profiles of normal and heat-treated testes from C57BL/6, AKR/N and MRL/MpJ-+/+ mice by microarray analysis. In the normal C57BL/6 testis, 415 and 416 transcripts were differentially expressed (at least two-fold higher or lower) when compared to the normal AKR/N and MRL/MpJ-+/+ testis, respectively. The AKR/N and MRL/MpJ-+/+ strains revealed 268 differentially expressed transcripts between them. There were 231 transcripts differentially expressed between C57BL/6 and two purported heat-resistant strains, AKR/N and MRL/MpJ-+/+. Next, the testes of C57BL/6 and AKR/N mice were exposed to 43C for 15 min and harvested at different time points for TUNEL studies and microarrays. An increase of TUNEL-positive germ cell numbers was significant 8 hr after heat exposure in the C57BL/6 mouse. However, this increase was not observed in the AKR/N mouse until 10 hr after heat exposure. All tubules showed germ cell loss and disruption in C57BL/6 testis 24 hr after heat shock. In contrast, although a number of seminiferous tubules showed an abnormal morphology 24 hr post-heat shock in the AKR/N mouse, many tubules still retained a normal structure. Numerous transcripts exhibited differential regulation between the two strains within 24 hours after heat exposure. The differentially expressed transcripts in the testes 8 hr after heat exposure were targeted to identify the genes involved in the initial response rather than those due to germ cell loss. Twenty transcripts were significantly down-regulated and 19 genes were up-regulated by hyperthermia in C57BL/6 and did not show a parallel change in the AKR/N testis. Conversely, heat shock resulted in 30 up-regulated transcripts and 31 down-regulated transcripts in AKR/N that were not similarly regulated in C57BL/6. A number of genes shared similar differential expression patterns and differential regulation by hyperthermia in both strains of mice. Taken together, the present study indicates the diverse genetic backgrounds in the three strains lead to major differences in normal testis gene expression profiles while the differences in heat shock responses involves a significantly smaller number of genes. The data generated may provide insights regarding gene networks and pathways involved in heat stress and their relationship to spermatogenesis.
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View SamplesMurine testis developmental time course created from tissue samples collected from birth through adulthood and hybridized to M430_2 chips in duplicate.
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View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Profiling gene expression during the differentiation and development of the murine embryonic gonad.
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View SamplesThe role of estrogen and testosterone in the regulation of gene expression in the proximal reproductive tract is not completely understood. To address this question, mice were treated with testosterone or estradiol and RNA from the efferent ducts and caput epididymis was processed and hybridized to Affymetrix MOE 430 2.0 microarrays. Analysis of array output identified probe sets in each tissue with altered levels in hormone treated versus control animals. Hormone treatment efficacy was confirmed by determination of serum hormone levels pre- and post-treatment and observed changes in transcript levels of previously reported hormone-responsive genes. Tissue-specific hormone sensitivity was observed with 2867 and 3197 probe sets changing significantly in the efferent ducts after estrogen and testosterone treatment, respectively. In the caput epididymis, 117 and 268 probe sets changed after estrogen and testosterone treatment, respectively, demonstrating a greater response to hormone in the efferent ducts than the caput epididymis. Transcripts sharing similar profiles in the intact and hormone-treated animals compared with castrated controls were also identified. Ontological analysis of probe sets revealed a significant number of hormone-regulated transcripts encode proteins associated with lipid metabolism, transcription and steroid metabolism in both tissues. Real-time RT-PCR was employed to confirm array data and investigate other potential hormone-responsive regulators of proximal reproductive tract function. The results of this work reveal previously unknown responses to estrogen in the caput epididymis and to testosterone in the efferent ducts as well as tissue specific hormone sensitivity in the proximal reproductive tract.
Regulation of gene expression by estrogen and testosterone in the proximal mouse reproductive tract.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesPhosphorylation and subsequent nuclear translocation of SMAD proteins determine the cellular response to activin. Here we identify a novel means by which activin signalling is regulated to enable developmental stage-specific SMAD gene transcription. In response to activin A, immature proliferating mouse Sertoli cells exhibit nuclear accumulation of SMAD3, but not SMAD2, although both proteins are phosphorylated. In post-mitotic differentiating cells, both SMAD2 and SMAD3 accumulate in the nucleus. Furthermore, immature Sertoli cells are sensitive to activin dosage; at higher concentrations maximal SMAD3 nuclear accumulation is observed, accompanied by a small, but significant, increase in nuclear SMAD2. Microarray analysis confirmed that differential SMAD utilization correlated with altered transcriptional outcomes and identified new activin target genes, Gja1 and Serpina5, which are known to be required for Sertoli cell development and male fertility. In immature Sertoli cells, genetic or transient knockdown of SMAD3 enhanced SMAD2 nuclear accumulation in response to activin, with increased Serpina5 mRNA levels associated with nuclear localized SMAD2. In transgenic mice with altered activin bioactivity that display male fertility phenotypes, testicular Gja1 and Serpina5 mRNA levels reflected altered in vivo activin levels. We conclude that regulated nuclear accumulation of phosphorylated SMAD2 is a novel determinant of developmentally regulated activin signalling.
Developmentally regulated SMAD2 and SMAD3 utilization directs activin signaling outcomes.
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View SamplesTime course of gene expression in the murine embryonic ovary from the time of the indifferent gonad (11.5dpc) to birth (18.5dpc)
Profiling gene expression during the differentiation and development of the murine embryonic gonad.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTime course of gene expression in the murine embryonic testis from the time of the indifferent gonad (11.5dpc) to birth (18.5dpc)
Profiling gene expression during the differentiation and development of the murine embryonic gonad.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesCryptorchidism and scrotal heating result in abnormal spermatogenesis but the mechanism(s) proscribing this temperature sensitivity are unknown. It was previously reported that the AKR/N or MRL/MpJ-+/+ mouse testis is more heat resistant than the testis from the C57BL/6 strain. We have attempted to probe into the mechanism(s) involved in heat sensitivity by examining global gene expression profiles of normal and heat-treated testes from C57BL/6, AKR/N and MRL/MpJ-+/+ mice by microarray analysis. In the normal C57BL/6 testis, 415 and 416 transcripts were differentially expressed (at least two-fold higher or lower) when compared to the normal AKR/N and MRL/MpJ-+/+ testis, respectively. The AKR/N and MRL/MpJ-+/+ strains revealed 268 differentially expressed transcripts between them. There were 231 transcripts differentially expressed between C57BL/6 and two purported heat-resistant strains, AKR/N and MRL/MpJ-+/+.
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View SamplesImmune privileged Sertoli cells (SC) survive when transplanted across immunological barriers and prolong the survival of co-transplanted allogeneic and xenogeneic cells in rodent models. However, the mechanism for this survival and protection remains unresolved. We have recently identified a mouse Sertoli cell line (MSC-1) that lacks some of the immunoprotective abilities associated with primary SC. The objective of this study was to compare the survival and gene expression profiles of primary SC and MSC-1 cells to identify factors or immune-related pathways potentially important for SC immune privilege. Primary SC or MSC-1 cells were transplanted as allografts to the renal subcapsular area of nave BALB/c mice and cell survival was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, transcriptome differences were investigated by microarray and pathway analyses. While primary SC were detected within the grafts with 100% graft survival throughout the 20-day study, MSC-1 cells w ere rejected between 11 and 14 days with 0% graft survival at 20 days post-transplantation. Microarray analysis identified 3198 genes that were differentially expressed with a 4-fold or higher level in primary SC. Cluster and pathway analyses indicate that the mechanism of SC immune privilege is likely complex with multiple immune modulators being involved such as immunosuppressive cytokines and complement inhibitors, lipid mediators for controlling inflammation, and junctional molecules that control leukocyte movement in and out of the immune privileged space. Further study of these immune modulators will increase our understanding of SC immune privilege and in the long-term lead to improvements in transplantation success.
Immunoprotective properties of primary Sertoli cells in mice: potential functional pathways that confer immune privilege.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesWe used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression underlying the effect of sleep deprivation in the mouse hippocampus and identified distinct classes of regulated genes during this process.
Genomic analysis of sleep deprivation reveals translational regulation in the hippocampus.
Age, Specimen part, Treatment
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