Quantification of Mitochondrial Genome Transcription in Male Reproductive Cells by Real-Time PCR

Mitochondria are organelles that play a key role in the regulation of cell energy metabolism, biosynthesis, and cell death. Mitochondria are also involved in important physiological processes, such as the three-carboxylic acid cycle, the oxidation of fatty acids and amino acids, and calcium ion homeostasis. The energy demands of male germ cells during mitosis and meiosis are higher than those of somatic cells, suggesting that mitochondria play a critical role in sperm. Mitochondria are nanotoxicity targets in male germ cells. The level of mitochondrial genome transcription is reflective of mitochondrial function and can therefore be used as a quantitative index for evaluating nanotoxicity. This study describes how to use real-time PCR to evaluate the effects of nanomaterials on mitochondrial genome transcription in male reproductive cells.