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Ethanol-related transcriptomic changes in mouse testes
Gwidong Han1, Seung Jae Lee1, Seung Pyo Hong1
1School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Korea.
BMC Genomics
|August 20, 2024
Summary
Chronic ethanol consumption in mice reduced sperm count and motility. This study reveals down-regulated gene expression in sperm tail structures, suggesting a molecular basis for alcohol-induced male reproductive dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Toxicology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Alcohol consumption negatively impacts multiple organs.
- Previous research focused on physiological and cellular effects of ethanol on male reproduction.
- No systematic studies investigated ethanol's impact on male reproductive gene expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of ethanol-induced changes in the mouse testis.
- To identify specific genes and pathways affected by chronic ethanol administration.
- To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying ethanol-mediated male reproductive dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Chronic ethanol administration using the Lieber-DeCarli diet in mice.
- Assessment of testicular and epididymal integrity, sperm morphology, count, and motility.
- Total RNA sequencing of testicular tissue.
- In silico analyses, including gene set enrichment analysis.
Main Results:
- Ethanol-fed mice exhibited normal testicular histology and sperm morphology but reduced sperm count and motility.
- RNA sequencing revealed differential expression in approximately 2% of testicular genes, with 28% being cell-type specific.
- Gene set enrichment analysis identified down-regulation of sperm tail structure-related genes, including Forkhead box J1 (Foxj1).
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first comprehensive transcriptomic profile of ethanol's effects on the mouse testis.
- Altered gene expression in the testis is a potential mechanism for ethanol-induced male reproductive dysfunction.
- Impaired sperm motility may result from ethanol-induced changes in the expression of genes related to sperm structure and function.
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