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Dynamic Alterations in Testicular Autophagy in Prepubertal Mice
Dong Zhang1, Xiaoyun Pang1, Zhenxing Yan1
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
Journal of Developmental Biology
|November 24, 2025
Summary
Testicular autophagy dynamically changes during male mouse development. Autophagy levels increase in early weeks and decrease later, offering insights into testicular development regulation.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Cellular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Autophagy plays a role in spermatogenesis and testicular development.
- Understanding dynamic changes in testicular autophagy is crucial for reproductive health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze dynamic alterations in testicular autophagy during prepubertal development in mice.
- To clarify the relationship between autophagy levels and testicular development.
Main Methods:
- Transmission electron microscopy to identify autophagic vacuoles.
- Western blotting for autophagy-related proteins (Beclin 1, LC3-II, p62) and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway proteins.
- Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry for LC3 and p62 localization.
Main Results:
- Autophagic vacuoles peaked at 2 weeks and decreased significantly by 8 weeks.
- Beclin 1, LC3-II, and p62 expression were highest at 2 weeks.
- mTOR expression was low at 1-2 weeks and increased from 2-8 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Testicular autophagy exhibits a dynamic pattern: increasing from weeks 1-2 and decreasing from weeks 2-8.
- These findings provide a reference for understanding autophagy's role in testicular development.
