Activin over-expression in the testis of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit gene is associated with androgen deficiency and regression of the male reproductive tract

Rukmali Wijayarathna, David M. de Kretser, Andreas Meinhardt, Ralf Middendorff, Helen Ludlow, Nigel P. Groome, Kate A. Loveland, Mark P. Hedger

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Regionalised interaction of the activins, follistatin and inhibin was investigated in the male reproductive tract of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit (Inha−/-). Serum and intratesticular activin B, although not activin A and follistatin, were increased in Inha−/- mice at 25 days of age, but all three proteins were elevated at 56 days. None of these proteins were altered within the epididymis and vas deferens at either age. At 25 days, histology of the epididymis and vas deferens was similar to wild-type. At 56 days, the testis contained extensive somatic cell tumours, leading to Leydig cell regression and testosterone deficiency. The epididymis and vas deferens showed epithelial regression and increased prominence of the interstitial stroma. Immunoregulatory and fibrotic gene expression in the epididymis and vas deferens were unchanged. Thus, absence of the inhibin α-subunit has marginal effects on activins in the epididymis and vas deferens, and regression of these tissues is associated with androgen deficiency.
LanguageEnglish
Pages188-198
Number of pages11
JournalMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Volume470
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Jul 2017

Cite this

Wijayarathna, Rukmali ; de Kretser, David M. ; Meinhardt, Andreas ; Middendorff, Ralf ; Ludlow, Helen ; Groome, Nigel P. ; Loveland, Kate A. ; Hedger, Mark P./ Activin over-expression in the testis of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit gene is associated with androgen deficiency and regression of the male reproductive tract. In: Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 2017 ; Vol. 470. pp. 188-198
@article{946d10cd41fb457eaf800fa28e37de79,
title = "Activin over-expression in the testis of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit gene is associated with androgen deficiency and regression of the male reproductive tract",
abstract = "Regionalised interaction of the activins, follistatin and inhibin was investigated in the male reproductive tract of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit (Inha−/-). Serum and intratesticular activin B, although not activin A and follistatin, were increased in Inha−/- mice at 25 days of age, but all three proteins were elevated at 56 days. None of these proteins were altered within the epididymis and vas deferens at either age. At 25 days, histology of the epididymis and vas deferens was similar to wild-type. At 56 days, the testis contained extensive somatic cell tumours, leading to Leydig cell regression and testosterone deficiency. The epididymis and vas deferens showed epithelial regression and increased prominence of the interstitial stroma. Immunoregulatory and fibrotic gene expression in the epididymis and vas deferens were unchanged. Thus, absence of the inhibin α-subunit has marginal effects on activins in the epididymis and vas deferens, and regression of these tissues is associated with androgen deficiency.",
author = "Rukmali Wijayarathna and {de Kretser}, {David M.} and Andreas Meinhardt and Ralf Middendorff and Helen Ludlow and Groome, {Nigel P.} and Loveland, {Kate A.} and Hedger, {Mark P.}",
year = "2017",
month = "7",
day = "15",
doi = "10.1016/j.mce.2017.10.013",
language = "English",
volume = "470",
pages = "188--198",
journal = "Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology",
issn = "0303-7207",
publisher = "Elsevier",

}

Wijayarathna, R, de Kretser, DM, Meinhardt, A, Middendorff, R, Ludlow, H, Groome, NP, Loveland, KA & Hedger, MP 2017, 'Activin over-expression in the testis of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit gene is associated with androgen deficiency and regression of the male reproductive tract' Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, vol. 470, pp. 188-198. DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.10.013

Activin over-expression in the testis of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit gene is associated with androgen deficiency and regression of the male reproductive tract. / Wijayarathna, Rukmali; de Kretser, David M.; Meinhardt, Andreas; Middendorff, Ralf; Ludlow, Helen; Groome, Nigel P.; Loveland, Kate A.; Hedger, Mark P.

In: Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Vol. 470, 15.07.2017, p. 188-198.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Activin over-expression in the testis of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit gene is associated with androgen deficiency and regression of the male reproductive tract

AU - Wijayarathna,Rukmali

AU - de Kretser,David M.

AU - Meinhardt,Andreas

AU - Middendorff,Ralf

AU - Ludlow,Helen

AU - Groome,Nigel P.

AU - Loveland,Kate A.

AU - Hedger,Mark P.

PY - 2017/7/15

Y1 - 2017/7/15

N2 - Regionalised interaction of the activins, follistatin and inhibin was investigated in the male reproductive tract of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit (Inha−/-). Serum and intratesticular activin B, although not activin A and follistatin, were increased in Inha−/- mice at 25 days of age, but all three proteins were elevated at 56 days. None of these proteins were altered within the epididymis and vas deferens at either age. At 25 days, histology of the epididymis and vas deferens was similar to wild-type. At 56 days, the testis contained extensive somatic cell tumours, leading to Leydig cell regression and testosterone deficiency. The epididymis and vas deferens showed epithelial regression and increased prominence of the interstitial stroma. Immunoregulatory and fibrotic gene expression in the epididymis and vas deferens were unchanged. Thus, absence of the inhibin α-subunit has marginal effects on activins in the epididymis and vas deferens, and regression of these tissues is associated with androgen deficiency.

AB - Regionalised interaction of the activins, follistatin and inhibin was investigated in the male reproductive tract of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit (Inha−/-). Serum and intratesticular activin B, although not activin A and follistatin, were increased in Inha−/- mice at 25 days of age, but all three proteins were elevated at 56 days. None of these proteins were altered within the epididymis and vas deferens at either age. At 25 days, histology of the epididymis and vas deferens was similar to wild-type. At 56 days, the testis contained extensive somatic cell tumours, leading to Leydig cell regression and testosterone deficiency. The epididymis and vas deferens showed epithelial regression and increased prominence of the interstitial stroma. Immunoregulatory and fibrotic gene expression in the epididymis and vas deferens were unchanged. Thus, absence of the inhibin α-subunit has marginal effects on activins in the epididymis and vas deferens, and regression of these tissues is associated with androgen deficiency.

U2 - 10.1016/j.mce.2017.10.013

DO - 10.1016/j.mce.2017.10.013

M3 - Article

VL - 470

SP - 188

EP - 198

JO - Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology

T2 - Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology

JF - Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology

SN - 0303-7207

ER -

Wijayarathna R, de Kretser DM, Meinhardt A, Middendorff R, Ludlow H, Groome NP et al. Activin over-expression in the testis of mice lacking the inhibin α-subunit gene is associated with androgen deficiency and regression of the male reproductive tract. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 2017 Jul 15;470:188-198. Available from, DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.10.013

Access to Document

Related content

Projects

Identification of testis-specific markers of male infertility

Project: Research

NHMRC Research Fellowship

Project: Research

NHMRC Research Fellowship

Project: Research