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Ghrelin modulates testicular damage in a cryptorchid mouse model
Enrica Bianchi1,2, Kim Boekelheide2, Mark Sigman1,2
1Division of Urology, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States of America.
Plos One
|May 26, 2017
Summary
Ghrelin deletion impacts male fertility. Ghrelin treatment protects against testicular damage in cryptorchidism models, suggesting therapeutic potential for heat-induced testicular injury.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Endocrinology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Undescended testis (UDT) is a congenital abnormality linked to male infertility and testicular cancer.
- Ghrelin and its receptor (GHSR) play roles in various physiological processes, but their impact on male reproductive health requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of ghrelin or GHSR gene deletion on mouse reproductive performance.
- To assess ghrelin's efficacy in preventing testicular damage in a surgically induced cryptorchidism model.
Main Methods:
- Reciprocal matings of ghrelin and GHSR knockout mice to evaluate fertility and litter size.
- Surgical induction of unilateral cryptorchidism in wild-type and GHSR knockout mice.
- Administration of ghrelin or saline to cryptorchid mice, followed by assessment of testicular weight, histology, and germ cell apoptosis.
Main Results:
- Endogenous ghrelin deletion was found to alter male fertility parameters.
- Ghrelin treatment significantly ameliorated testicular weight loss in surgically induced cryptorchidism.
- Ghrelin treatment preserved spermatogenesis and seminiferous tubule diameter in cryptorchid testes, particularly in GHSR knockout mice.
Conclusions:
- Ghrelin plays a role in maintaining male reproductive health and fertility.
- Ghrelin therapy demonstrates potential in mitigating testicular damage caused by hyperthermia or cryptorchidism.
- Further research is warranted to uncover the precise mechanisms underlying ghrelin's protective effects on testicular tissue.
