Photoperiod-regulated mitophagy in the germ cells of Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii)  

作　　者：Lijuan ZHAO Chunxiao CHEN Lewen WANG Yan LIU Fanglei GONG Jingou WANG Hong SUN Dawei WANG Zhenlong WANG 

机构地区：[1]School of Life Sciences,Zhengzhou University,Zhengzhou,Henan,China [2]State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests,Institute of Plant Protection,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Beijing,China [3]Western Agricultural Research Center,Chinese Academy of Agriculture Science,Changji,Xinjiang,China [4]Centre for Sport Nutrition and Health,School of Physical Education(Main Campus),Zhengzhou University,Zhengzhou,Henan,China

出　　处：《Integrative Zoology》2024年第6期1105-1120,共16页整合动物学(英文版)

基　　金：supported by the fellowship of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M712901);the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant 32301302 to Lijuan Zhao and Grants 31972284,31471790,and 32372571 to Dawei Wang);the Zhongyuan Science and Technology Innovation Leading Talent Project(Grant 224200510001 to Zhenlong Wang);the fellowship of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M712898).

摘　　要：Photoperiod is a pivotal factor in affecting testicular function and spermatogenesis in seasonal-breeding animals.Mitophagy is essential for spermatogenesis,but its association with seasonal photoperiods has not been studied extensively.To explore this,we exposed male Brandt’s voles(Lasiopodomys brandtii)to long-photoperiod(LP,16 h/day)and short-photoperiod(SP,8 h/day)conditions from their embryonic stages.Our results indicated that testis weight,volume,and relative testes weight were all significantly increased in LP compared to SP.Additionally,blood testosterone levels were markedly higher in LP than SP.Histological examination revealed that seminiferous diameter and epithelium thickness were greater in LP,with an increased abundance of germ cell types and cell numbers compared to SP.RT-qPCR analysis showed that mitophagy-promoting genes,such as Pink1,Prkn,Tomm7,Mnf2,Lc3,Optn,Gabarap,and Nbr1 were all upregulated in LP.Fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated that Pink1 expression was present in spermatogonia in SP,while in LP,Pink1 expression extended to almost all germ cell types with significantly higher mean optical density.Prkn expression was found in all germ cell types in both LP and SP,with a significantly higher mean optical density of 10-week-old LP males.Transmission electron microscopy showed normal mitochondrial morphology with clear membranes in SP,while the LP group had reduced cristae in mitochondria and damaged mitochondria undergoing autophagy.This study suggests that mitophagy may be involved in the photoperiodic spermatogenesis in Brandt’s voles,providing insights into the role of photoperiod in seasonal reproduction in wild animals.

关 键 词：Brandt’s vole MITOPHAGY PHOTOPERIOD SPERMATOGENESIS 

分 类 号：R73[医药卫生—肿瘤]