Back to Search
Start Over
Autophagy enhances lipid droplet development during spermiogenesis in Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis.
- Source :
-
Theriogenology [Theriogenology] 2020 Apr 15; Vol. 147, pp. 154-165. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Nov 18. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Spermiogenesis is a highly organized process of the metamorphosis of round spermatids into spermatozoa in the testes. Autophagy is involved in the physiological process of spermiogenesis and its crucial role in germ-plasm clearance conserved across kingdoms. However, the fate of by-products generated through autophagy during spermiogenesis is still largely unknown. In the present study, we showed that the autophagy enhanced lipid droplets (LDs) formation during spermiogenesis in Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis. TEM and Oil Red O staining results found that the number and size of LDs within spermatid increased considerably during the process of spermiogenesis. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that autophagy was highly activated via the PI3K pathway during spermatogenesis. Inhibiting autophagy with 3-methyladenine (3-MA) significantly decreased testicular triglycerides (TGs) and fatty acid (FAs) content. In comparison with the control group, the number and size of LD within elongating spermatids was reduced significantly in the 3-MA group. Moreover, DGAT1, a diacylglycerol acyltransferase, which normally localize to the endoplasmic reticulum, was found to co-localize with LDs. Taken together, our results showed that FAs released through the autophagic degradation of germ-plasm was replenished LDs of spermatid, increasing LD number and size, during the process of spermiogenesis. These LDs facilitate long-term sperm storage in the epididymis of Chinese soft-shelled turtle.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests.<br /> (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1879-3231
- Volume :
- 147
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Theriogenology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 31787469
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.11.020