Apoptotic and nonapoptotic function of caspase 7 in spermatogenesis

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 29, 2026

In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila
13:21

In Vivo Biosensor Tracks Non-apoptotic Caspase Activity in Drosophila

Published on: November 27, 2016

9.6K

Bin Lei1,2, Xuming Zhou1, Daojun Lv1

  • 1Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.

Asian Journal of Andrology
|December 9, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Caspase 7 plays a dual role in male reproduction, acting non-apoptotically in normal spermatogenesis and apoptotically during dysfunction. This study clarifies its function in testicular cells.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Caspase 7 is known for both apoptotic and non-apoptotic roles.
  • Its specific function in spermatogenesis is currently unknown.
  • Understanding caspase 7's role is crucial for reproductive health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of caspase 7 in normal and abnormal spermatogenesis.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of caspase 7 in testicular cells.
  • To determine the relationship between caspase 7 and apoptosis during sperm development.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot to assess caspase 7 expression.
  • Immunohistochemistry (IHC) to localize caspase 7 in testis tissues.
  • Induction of spermatogenic dysfunction in mice using busulfan.

Main Results:

  • Caspase 7 expression increased with age in normal testes, independent of apoptosis.
  • Caspase 7 was localized in spermatogenic and Leydig cells.
  • Busulfan-induced dysfunction decreased caspase 7 in spermatogenic cells but increased it in Leydig cells, correlating with apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Caspase 7 exhibits a non-apoptotic function in normal spermatogenesis.
  • Caspase 7 demonstrates an apoptotic function during spermatogenic dysfunction.
  • These findings highlight caspase 7's complex role in male reproductive processes.

More Related Videos

Exploring Caspase Mutations and Post-Translational Modification by Molecular Modeling Approaches05:56

Exploring Caspase Mutations and Post-Translational Modification by Molecular Modeling Approaches

Published on: October 13, 2022

1.9K
Detecting Anastasis In Vivo by CaspaseTracker Biosensor20:16

Detecting Anastasis In Vivo by CaspaseTracker Biosensor

Published on: February 1, 2018

9.8K

Related Concept Videos

Caspases01:24

Caspases

Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside...
14.5K
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
9.2K
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size...
16.9K
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
9.3K
Spermatogenesis01:22

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is a complex process that involves the development of sperm cells from undifferentiated stem cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. The process is essential for the production of mature and functional sperm cells that are capable of fertilizing an egg.
The process of spermatogenesis can be divided into mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. During mitosis, the spermatogonia or stem cells divide to produce two identical daughter cells, type A and B spermatogonia. Type-A...
10.9K
Spermatogenesis01:41

Spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male...
124.7K