Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
11
pubmed:dateCreated
1999-11-26
pubmed:abstractText
During regular spermatogenesis, a number of testicular germ cells degenerate by an apoptotic process that is under hormonal control. Oxidative and mitochondrial changes have been proposed to play a role in apoptosis of many cell types. Previously, whether human germ cell survival is controlled by oxygen or by effectors of the mitochondrial permeability transition has not been investigated. In the present study, apoptosis was induced in human testicular germ cells by incubating segments of seminiferous tubules without survival factors (i.e. serum or hormones; 21% oxygen). Apoptosis was significantly suppressed in an inversely dose-dependent fashion at partial oxygen pressures below 10%, as detected by Southern blot analysis of DNA fragmentation, DNA labeling in situ, and electron microscopy. Cyclosporin A and its nonimmunosuppressive derivative N-methyl-Val4-cyclosporin A prevented cell death, suggesting a key role for the mitochondrial permeability transition in apoptosis. Apoptotic cells were identified as mainly spermatocytes and spermatids, the mitochondria of which underwent morphological changes during the apoptotic process. The present results imply that to improve germ cell viability in in vitro fertilization techniques, the partial oxygen pressure should be lowered.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
0021-972X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
84
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
4253-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Aged, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Aged, 80 and over, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Apoptosis, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Blotting, Southern, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Cell Membrane Permeability, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Cell Survival, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Culture Techniques, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Cyclosporine, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-DNA Fragmentation, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Male, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Microscopy, Electron, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Middle Aged, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Mitochondria, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Oxygen, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Partial Pressure, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Seminiferous Epithelium, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Spermatids, pubmed-meshheading:10566681-Spermatozoa
pubmed:year
1999
pubmed:articleTitle
Partial oxygen pressure and mitochondrial permeability transition affect germ cell apoptosis in the human testis.
pubmed:affiliation
Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Finland. krista.erkkila@huch.fi
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't