基础医学与临床 ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (7): 851-857.doi: 10.16352/j.issn.1001-6325.2025.07.0851

• 研究论文 • 上一篇    下一篇

小鼠精子形成过程中自噬体形成与脂滴积聚的动态变化

杨艺璇1, 钱晓菁1, 刘争辉2, 韩代书2, 陈咏梅1*   

  1. 中国医学科学院基础医学研究所 北京协和医学院基础学院 1.人体解剖与组织胚胎学系;2.细胞生物学系,北京 100005
  • 收稿日期:2025-04-25 修回日期:2025-05-19 出版日期:2025-07-05 发布日期:2025-06-24
  • 通讯作者: *yongmeichen@ibms.pumc.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金(31071270, 82071633);中国医学科学院医学与健康科技创新工程(2022-I2M-1-012)

Dynamic changes in autophagosome formation and lipid droplet accumulation during spermiogenesis in mice

YANG Yixuan1, QIAN Xiaojing1, LIU Zhenghui2, HAN Daishu2, CHEN Yongmei1*   

  1. 1. Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology;2. Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences CAMS, School of Basic Medicine PUMC, Beijing 100005, China
  • Received:2025-04-25 Revised:2025-05-19 Online:2025-07-05 Published:2025-06-24
  • Contact: *yongmeichen@ibms.pumc.edu.cn

摘要: 目的 研究精子变形过程中自噬体的形成与曲细精管中脂滴的时空关系,为探究精子形成的能量来源提供依据。方法 选用健康成年野生型雄性小鼠,借助免疫组化染色和Western blot,检测自噬标志蛋白微管相关蛋白轻链3(LC3)在睾丸中的表达特征,使用透射电镜观察睾丸中的自噬体;通过油红O染色法观察曲细精管中脂滴的分布,结合ATP以及ATP酶的检测探讨脂滴与能量变化的关系。结果 变形精子和支持细胞中存在自噬体;LC3主要在变形精子胞质中表达,Ⅱ-Ⅳ期长形精子中逐渐升高,其胞质中脂滴也逐渐增多,Ⅶ-Ⅷ期精子和残余体中脂滴最高,随后下降;而支持细胞中的脂滴Ⅸ-Ⅰ期处于高位水平,Ⅱ-Ⅷ期很低,曲细精管中的ATP含量与之类似,ATP酶的活性与之相反。以上结果均有明显的生精周期依赖性改变。结论 在小鼠精子变形过程中,LC3的表达水平、自噬体的出现和精子细胞内的脂滴、支持细胞内的脂滴以及曲细精管内ATP和ATP酶的含量呈现非常紧密的时空相关性,提示它们协同在这个剧烈的细胞改建时期发挥作用,为精子形成提供能量。

关键词: 自噬, 脂滴, 微管相关蛋白轻链3(LC3), 精子形成, 残余体

Abstract: Objective To investigate the temporal and spatial relationship between autophagosome formation during spermatid deformation and lipid droplet distribution in seminiferous tubules, thereby providing insights into the energy sources underlying spermiogenesis. Methods Healthy adult wild-type male mice were used in this study. The expression profile of the autophagy marker microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) in the testis was examined using immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. The ultrastructural features of autophagosomes were observed via transmission electron microscopy. Lipid droplets in the seminiferous tubules were visualized by Oil Red O staining, and the relationship between lipid metabolism and energy dynamics was assessed by measuring ATP content and ATPase activity. Results Autophagosomes were detected in deforming spermatids and Sertoli cells. LC3 was predominantly expressed in the cytoplasm of elongating spermatids, with increasing levels found from stages Ⅱ to Ⅳ. Concurrently, lipid droplets within these cells also increased, peaking in spermatids and residual bodies during stages Ⅶ-Ⅷ, followed by a decline. In contrast, lipid droplets in Sertoli cells remained markedly increased during stages Ⅸ-Ⅰ and low during stages Ⅱ-Ⅷ. The change of ATP levels in the seminiferous tubules showed a similar pattern as Sertoli cell lipid content, whereas ATPase activity showed an inverse trend. All these changes displayed a clear stage-dependent manner. Conclusions During spermatid elongation in mice LC3 expression, autophagosome formation, lipid droplet accumulation in both spermatozoa and Sertoli cells, as well as ATP and ATPase levels in seminiferous tubules exhibit a tightly coordinated spatiotemporal relationship. These findings suggest that autophagy and lipid metabolism synergistically contribute to the energy supply required for the extensive cellular remodeling that occurs during spermiogenesis.

Key words: autophagy, lipid droplet, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3(LC3), spermiogenesis, residual body

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