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Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Isolation of Sertoli Cells and Peritubular Cells from Rat Testes
Published on: February 8, 2016
Trace the profile and function of circular RNAs in Sertoli cell only syndrome
1NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Abstract:
Studies increasingly show the involvement of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in several diseases. This study aims to explore the circRNA expression pattern in the testicular tissues of patients with Sertoli only cell syndrome (SCOS) and their potential functions. High throughput circRNA microarray analysis indicated that 399 circRNAs were upregulated and 1195 were down-regulated (fold change >2, P < 0.05) in SCOS relative to obstructive azoospermia (OA). The hsa_circRNA_101222, hsa_circRNA_001387, hsa_circRNA_001153, hsa_circRNA_101373 and hsa_circRNA_103864 were validated by qRT-PCR. Furthermore, the hosting genes of the differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) were enriched in biological processes related to cell cycle and intercellular communication. Also, the overlapping genes between the hosting genes of SCOS-related DEcircRNAs and those highly expressed in Sertoli cells of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) were enriched in immune cell development and cell communication. Taken together, aberrantly expressed circRNAs likely mediate SCOS development by regulating the function of Sertoli cells and the spermatogenic microenvironment.
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