Transcriptome analyses reveal key features of mouse seminal vesicle during aging

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Aging Research
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Seminal vesicles undergo significant morphological changes with aging.
• Transcriptomic alterations in aging seminal vesicles are largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate transcriptomic changes in aging mouse seminal vesicles.
• To identify key genes and biological processes affected by aging in seminal vesicles.

Main Methods:

• Bulk RNA sequencing of seminal vesicle samples from mice at 3, 13, and 21 months of age.
• Differential gene expression analysis comparing young (3-month-old) and aged (21-month-old) mice.
• Validation of gene and protein expression trends.

Main Results:

• Aged seminal vesicles exhibit cystic dilatation, epithelial hypoplasia, fibrosis, and reduced proliferation.
• Leukocyte-mediated immunity and migration are significantly upregulated in aged seminal vesicles.
• Genes like Vcam1, Cxcl13, Ccl8, P21, and Tnfrsf1b are identified as aging-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs).
• Cd209f and Ccl8 are consistently upregulated across multiple male reproductive organs with aging.

Conclusions:

• Aging seminal vesicles show an enhanced immune and inflammatory response.
• This study provides the first comprehensive transcriptome analysis of aging seminal vesicles in mice.
• Findings offer novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of aging-related seminal vesicle dysfunction.