Changes in Expressions of Spermatogenic Marker Genes and Spermatogenic Cell Population Caused by Stress

Abstract

Many young adults are in a state of stress due to social and psychological pressures, which may result in male reproductive dysfunction. To provide new insight into this phenomenon, we investigated the effect of stress on the regulation of key genes and biological events in specific stages of spermatogenesis. After establishing rat stress models of different time durations, we observed pathological changes in testis through haematoxylin and eosin staining, and analysed gene expression in testis by RNA-seq, bioinformatic analysis, and reverse transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) with the TissueFAXS quantitative imaging system was used to verify changes of different population of spermatogenic cells marked by differentially expressed marker genes. Our results showed that prolonged stress can lead to pathological changes in the testes, such as thinning of the spermatogenic epithelium, a decreased number of spermatogenic epithelial cells, the disordered arrangement of spermatogenic cells, and a decreased number of mature sperms. RNA-seq revealed that key marker spermatogenesis-related genes such as Stra8, Sycp3, Piwil1, and Tnp1 had significantly decreased expression levels in chronic stress groups, and this was confirmed by RT-qPCR and IHC. Collectively, these findings suggest that chronic stress causes damaging pathological changes in testis and dysregulates the marker genes of specific stages of spermatogenesis and change the population of spermatogenic cells, which may be a critical responsible for male reproductive dysfunction.

Association between generalized anxiety symptoms and semen quality in infertile men: A multicentre study in North China

“…The authors found that forced swimming stress in a time course equal to or more than the spermatogenesis period, such as 48-50 days in rats, is significantly effective in reducing the sperm count and motility as well as the fertilization capacity. The effect of stress on the regulation of key genes and biological events in specific stages of spermatogenesis has also been investigated (Tian et al, 2021); the study findings suggest that chronic stress causes damaging pathological changes in the testes, dysregulates the marker genes of specific stages of spermatogenesis, and changes the sperm cell population, which may be responsible for male reproductive dysfunction in rats. Our findings revealed that a similar process might be operative even in humans based on a large clinical sample.…”

Long-term effects of early postnatal stress on Sertoli cells

“…Since Sertoli cells are essential for germ cell maintenance and physiology, their persistent alterations during development through to adulthood may affect spermatogenesis and have detrimental consequences for germ cells and fertility. Psychological stress has been reported to reduce fertility in humans ( Bräuner et al, 2020 ) and is known to lead to molecular changes in spermatogenic cells in testis ( Tian et al, 2021 ) and adult sperm in rodents ( Franklin et al, 2010 ; Gapp et al, 2014 ), with the potential to impair metabolism and behavior in the offspring ( Gapp et al, 2014 ). However, the mechanisms by which Sertoli cells may alter germ cells are not known.…”

Long-term effects of early postnatal stress on Sertoli cells functions

“…Since Sertoli cells are essential for germ cell maintenance and physiology, their persistent alterations during development through to adulthood may affect spermatogenesis and have detrimental consequences for germ cells and fertility. Psychological stress has indeed been reported to reduce fertility in humans (Bräuner et al 2020) and is known to lead to molecular changes in spermatogenic cells in testis (Tian et al 2021) and adult sperm in rodents (Gapp et al 2014;Franklin et al 2010), with the potential to impair metabolism and behavior in the offspring (Gapp et al 2014). However, the mechanisms by which Sertoli cells may alter germ cells are not known.…”