Editor-in-Chief
Prof. Yi-Fei WANG,
Stage-specific localization of transforming growth factor β1 and β3 and their receptors during spermatogenesis in men
Yuan-Qiang Zhang1, Xiao-Zhou He1, Jin-Shan Zhang1, Rui-An Wang1, Jie Zhou1, Ruo-Jun Xu2
1Department of Histology & Embryology,
Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
2Department of Zoology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,
China
Asian J Androl 2004 Jun; 6: 105-109
Keywords: transforming growth factor; transforming growth factor receptors; human testis
Abstract
Aim: To investigate the stage-specific localization of transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 and β3 during spermatogenesis in adult human testis. Methods: The localization of TGFβ1 and β3 was investigated by immunohistochemical staining method employing specific polyclonal antibodies. Results: Both TGFβ1 and β3 and their receptors were preponderant in the Leydig cells. TGFβ1 could not be detected in the seminiferous tubules. TGFβ3 and TGFβ-Receptor (R) I were mainly seen in the elongated spermatids, while TGFβ-RII in the pachytene spermatocytes and weak in the spermatogonia, spermatids and Sertoli cells. Only TGFβ-RII was detected in the Sertoli cells. TGFβ3, TGFβ-RI and TGFβ-RII showed a staining pattern dependent upon the stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle. Conclusion: TGFβ isoforms and their receptors are present in the somatic and germ cells of the adult human testis, suggesting their involvement in the regulation of spermatogenesis.
1 Introduction
Testicular function is controlled not only by gonadotropins but also by cytokines and growth factors [1-3]. Three isoforms of transforming growth factor (TGF) β, TGFβ1, TGFβ2 and TGFβ3 have been identified in mammals. They have been shown to be paracrine/autocrine regulators of testicular function [4-7].
TGFβs are produced by the testis and are potent inhibitors of the Leydig cell function [8, 9] with certain effects on Sertoli cell function in vitro [10]. TGFβs also affect the migration and the shape and contractibility of peritubular myoid cells. Olaso et al [11] indicated that TGFβ1 induced apoptosis in the gonocytes of foetal testis in vitro and Hakovirta et al [12] found that TGFβ1 increased the level of DNA synthesis in preleptotene spermatocytes in cultured seminiferous tubules. However, all these results are from experimental animals, the function of TGFβs in human spermatogenesis is poorly understood. The present work was designed to localize the TGFβ ligands and their receptors in adult human testis and their roles in spermatogenesis.
2 Materials and methods
2.1 Tissue collection
Fourteen testes were collected from orchiectomy patients due to prostate cancer and autopsy cases following accidental deaths (20-55 yr old). The testicular tissue was fixed in Bouin's acid and processed for routine paraffin embedding. Normal tissue and spermatogenesis were identified in accordance with the criteria by Suares-Quian et al [13] and only 8 testes were selected for immunohistochemical analysis. Tissue collection was approved by the Human Research Committee of the University.
2.2 Antibodies
TGFβ1 and TGFβ3 rabbit polyclonal antibodies (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, USA) were raised against peptides mapping the carboxy terminus of the precursor forms of human TGFβ1 and TGFβ3, respectively. These antibodies have been recommended for the detection of precursor and mature TGFβ1 and TGFβ3 in mouse, rat and human and showed no cross-reactivity with each other. TGFβ- RI (sc-398, Santa Cruz), a polyclonal and affinity purified antibody raised against a peptide corresponding to the human and rat intracellular domain of TGFβ-RI, was used. TGFβ-RII (sc-220 Santa Cruz) was an affinity purified rabbit polyclonal antibody raised against a peptide mapping within the carboxy terminal domain of TGFβ-RII of human origin (differing from corresponding rat sequence by a single amino acid). TGFβ-RI and TGFβ-RII showed no cross-reactivity with each other.
2.3 Immunohistochemistry
Serial sections, 3 μm in thickness, were processed for immunolocalization. The standard streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex was used. Briefly, the sections were de-waxed in xylene and rehydrated through descending concentrations of ethanol and the endogenous peroxidases were blocked with 3 % H2O2/methanol for 15 min at 37 ℃. The sections were placed in a moist chamber and pre-incubated with a protein blocker solution containing 0.1 % BSA and 2 % non-immune rabbit serum to minimize non-specific staining. The sections were incubated for 2 h at 37 ℃ with the primary antibody diluted in an antibody diluting buffer (TGFβ 1:100, TGFβ2 1:100, TGFβ-RI 1:100, TGFβ-RII 1:100) and then with the biotinylated antibody (goat anti-rabbit IgG 1: 300, DAKO ChemMateTM, Japan) and the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (1: 300, DAKO ChemMateTM) according to the manufacturer's recommendation. Peroxidases were observed with 0.7 mg/mL 3-3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (Sigma) in 1.6 mg/mL urea hydrogen peroxide, 60 mmol/L Tris buffer, pH 7.6, RT as the chromogen and the sections were briefly counter-stained with hematoxylin. Negative controls were prepared by using 0.1 % PBS/BSA and non-immune rabbit serum instead of the primary antibody.
2.4 Analysis of seminiferous epithelium stages
The criteria described by Clermont [14] was used to identify the germ cell types and define the stages of seminiferous epithelium cycle. The histology of the seminiferous epithelium was investigated on H-E and PAS (periodic acid-Schiff-hemotoxylin) stained sections. Typical germ cell associations of fixed composition were described with the nuclear morphology of the germ cell and the topographical arrangement of spermatids as the principal criteria. The human seminiferous epithelium cycle are divided into six stages (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Briefly, stage I is characterized by the presence of two generations of spermatids and pachytene spermatocytes, stage II by the elongated spermatids moving to the luminal aspect of the seminiferous epithelium, stage III by only one generation of round spermatids, stage IV by spermatids with nuclei showing initial signs of elongation, stage V by one generation of elongating spermatids having typically pointed and deeply stained nuclei directed toward the limiting membrane and stage VI by primary and secondary spermatocytes undergoing first and second maturation divisions.
Figure 1 and Figure 2. Testicular cross-sections showing stages I-VI human seminiferous epithelium cycle (×400, HE and PAS staining) .
3 Results
3.1 Immunolocalization of TGFβ1 and β3 (Figure 3 and Figure 4)
The Leydig cells exhibited an intense TGFβ1 staining. However, even at higher magnification it was not conclusive whether seminiferous tubules were positive for TGFβ1. There appeared to be more widespread staining of TGFβ3 in the Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, primary spermatocytes and spermatids. No distinct positive staining was observed in spermatogonia. TGFb3 showed weak staining in the Sertoli cells and primary spermatocytes, while spermatids exihibited intense TGFβ3 staining. The TGFβ3 staining of the Sertoli cells and primary spermatocytes did not exhibit a cyclic pattern. On the contrary, the staining of the spermatids was dependent upon the stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle. TGFβ3 first appeared in the spermatids with nuclei showing the initial signs of elongation at stage IV, weak staining at stages V-VI and reached the highest intensity at stages I-II. There was no positive staining in the round spermatids at Stage III.
Figure 3. Distribution
of TGFb1 in
human testis with Leydig cells showing an intense TGFb1
staining (×400).
Figure 4. Distribution of TGFb3
in testis. TGFb3
in spermatids with nuclei showing initial sign of elongation at stage
IV, weak staining at stages V-VI and reaching the highest intensity at
stages I-II (×400).
3.2 Immunolocalization of TGFb-RI and RII (Figure 5 and Figure 6)
The staining for TGFβ-RI protein was stronger in the testicular interstitium, including the Leydig cells, weaker in the Sertoli cells and was not detectable in the spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes. The staining for TGFβ-RII was clearly visible in all the spermatids at the whole seminiferouse cycle. The TGFβ-RII protein was localized at the Leydig cells and nearly all the cells in the seminiferous epithelium except the peritubular cells. Their staining pattern was dependent upon the stages of the seminiferous cycle. TGFβ-RII showed intense staining in the pachytene spermatocytes at stages II-VI and was faint or undetectable in the primary spermatocytes, which had just entered the pachytene step at stage I. In spermatids, from round to elongating, the staining for TGFβ-RII could also be detected at all stages.
Figure 5 and Figure 6. Distribution of TGFb-RI and -RII in testis. Staining for TGFb-RI protein is strong in testicular interstitium, including Leydig cells, weak in Sertoli cells and not detectable in spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes. TGFb-RII showing intense staining in pachytene spermatocyte at stages II-VI and faint or undetectable in primary spermatocytes just entering the pachytene step at stage I. Staining for TGFb-RII in spermatids can be detected at all stages (×400) .
4 Discussion
There were a few papers concerning the distribution and expression of TGFβs in human testicular tumor [15,16], yet to our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the distribution of TGFβs and their receptors during spermatogenesis in normal human testis.
In the current study TGFβ1 was only detected in the Leydig cells, while in previous papers, it was mainly seen in the spermatocytes and early round spermatids in rats [12] and in young spermatocytes in boars [17]. To eliminate the difference in TGFβ1 antibody, we repeated the same experiment in rats and the results obtained were similar to the previous papers. Thus the distribution and expression of TGFβ1 may be species-specific. The physiological significance of this observation warrants further investigation.
It has been shown that TGFβ3 may regulate the opening and closing of the inter-Sertoli cell tight junctions so that fully developed spermatids can be released to the tubular lumen at spermiation [5]. In the present study it was shown that spermatids exhibited a strong TGFβ3 immunostaining that was dependent upon the stages of the seminiferous epithelium cycle. The results may indicate that TGFβ3 may play certain roles in spermatid maturation.
The present study shows that both the TGFβ-RI and -RII are present in the Leydig and germ cells, while only TGFβ-RII is found in the Sertoli cells. Caussanel et al [17] and Olaso et al [18] also failed to detect TGFβ-RI in pig and rat Sertoli cells. However, it is well known that TGFβs are important factors regulating lactate production, a-inhibin mRNA level, proteoglycan synthesis, calcium metabolism and aromatase activity, so the failure to detect TGFβ-RI in the Sertoli cells is puzzling. One may suggest that the expression of TGFβ-RI is below the detection limit of the immunohistochemical method.
It is not known whether TGFβs affect germ cell differentiation. A suitable spermatogenesis in vitro system is not available. Transgenic animals with an inactivated TGFβ1, β2 or β3 gene cannot be used, as all such animals die before puberty and TGFβ1, β2 and β-RII knockout could result in embryonic lethality [19]. The sophisticated genetic strategies embracing techniques for tissue-specific regulation and temporal switching of transgene expression in conjunction with tissue transplantation may provide important information.
The present study suggests that the TGFβ isoforms and their receptors may modulate differentiation of the somatic and germ cells in human testis. The changes in staining intensity and the expression pattern of TGFβ-Rs during the seminiferous cycle make us to believe that TGFβ may control two key steps in spermatogenesis: the meiotic process and the onset of spermiogenesis. In conclusion, this study provides new evidence for the potential role of TGFβ in the regulation of adult human spermatogenesis.
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Correspondence to: Prof.
Y. Q. Zhang, Department of Histology and Embryology, Fourth Military Medical
University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Tel/Fax: +86-29-8337 4508
E-mail: zhangyq@fmmu.edu.cn
Received 2004-01-15 Accepted 2004-04-14
