Biomaterial Database

Cytochrome P450 aromatase in male germ cells. 1997

S Carreau, and J Levallet

CNRS EP 9 Department of Biochemistry, University of Caen, France.

The ability of the male gonad to convert androgens into estrogens is well known; the microsomal enzymatic complex involved in this transformation is named aromatase and is composed of a specific cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) and an ubiquitous reductase. According to age, aromatase activity has been already measured in immature and mature rat Leydig cells as well as in Sertoli cells. Recently, in different studies, a cytochrome P450arom has even been immunolocalized not only in Leydig cells but also in germ cells of mouse, brown bear and rooster whereas in pig, ram and human the aromatase is mainly present in Leydig cells. Our purpose was to investigate the testicular cell distribution of cytochrome P450arom mRNA in adult rat using RT-PCR. With two highly specific primers located on exons 8 and 9, we have been able to amplify a 289 bp aromatase fragment not only in Leydig cells and Sertoli cells but also in highly-enriched preparations of pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids and testicular spermatozoa. These amplified products showed 100% homology with the corresponding fragment of the rat ovary cDNA. In parallel, using an anti-human cytochrome P450arom antibody we have demonstrated the presence of a 55 kDa protein in seminiferous tubules and crude germ cells (pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids) of the mature rat. After incubation with tritiated androstenedione, the aromatase activity in the microsomal fractions of purified testicular spermatozoa was 2.96 pmoles/mg/h and was found to be 5-fold higher when compared to that of either purified pachytene spermatocytes or round spermatids. Using a quantitative RT-PCR method with a standard cDNA 29 bp shorter, we have compared the amount of cytochrome P450arom mRNA in mature rat Leydig cells and Sertoli cells. In purified Leydig cells from mature rats the P450arom mRNA level was: 36 x 10(-3) amoles/microgram RNA whereas in Sertoli cells the mRNA level was 10 fold lower. In pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids and testicular spermatozoa the P450arom mRNA levels were respectively 367, 117 and < 1 x 10(-3) amoles/microgram RNA. Therefore, we evidenced that not only the Leydig cells but also the Sertoli cells of the rat during the testicular maturation have the capacity to express the gene of the cytochrome P450 aromatase. More importantly a biologically active cytochrome P450 aromatase is also present in germ cells (pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids and spermatozoa). The existence of an additional source of estrogens within the genital tract of the male is now well documented and that suggests a putative role for these hormones during the male germ cell development and maturation not only in the testis but also in the epididymis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009841	Oligonucleotides	Polymers made up of a few (2-20) nucleotides. In molecular genetics, they refer to a short sequence synthesized to match a region where a mutation is known to occur, and then used as a probe (OLIGONUCLEOTIDE PROBES). (Dorland, 28th ed)	Oligonucleotide
D005854	Germ Cells	The reproductive cells in multicellular organisms at various stages during GAMETOGENESIS.	Gamete,Gametes,Germ-Line Cells,Germ Line,Cell, Germ,Cell, Germ-Line,Cells, Germ,Cells, Germ-Line,Germ Cell,Germ Line Cells,Germ Lines,Germ-Line Cell
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001141	Aromatase	An enzyme that catalyzes the desaturation (aromatization) of the ring A of C19 androgens and converts them to C18 estrogens. In this process, the 19-methyl is removed. This enzyme is membrane-bound, located in the endoplasmic reticulum of estrogen-producing cells of ovaries, placenta, testes, adipose, and brain tissues. Aromatase is encoded by the CYP19 gene, and functions in complex with NADPH-FERRIHEMOPROTEIN REDUCTASE in the cytochrome P-450 system.	CYP19,Cytochrome P-450 CYP19,Cytochrome P-450(AROM),Androstenedione Aromatase,CYP 19,CYP19 Protein,Cytochrome P450 19,Estrogen Synthase,Estrogen Synthetase,P450AROM,Aromatase, Androstenedione,Cytochrome P 450 CYP19,Protein, CYP19
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D013737	Testis	The male gonad containing two functional parts: the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES for the production and transport of male germ cells (SPERMATOGENESIS) and the interstitial compartment containing LEYDIG CELLS that produce ANDROGENS.	Testicles,Testes,Testicle
D015153	Blotting, Western	Identification of proteins or peptides that have been electrophoretically separated by blot transferring from the electrophoresis gel to strips of nitrocellulose paper, followed by labeling with antibody probes.	Immunoblotting, Western,Western Blotting,Western Immunoblotting,Blot, Western,Immunoblot, Western,Western Blot,Western Immunoblot,Blots, Western,Blottings, Western,Immunoblots, Western,Immunoblottings, Western,Western Blots,Western Blottings,Western Immunoblots,Western Immunoblottings
D016133	Polymerase Chain Reaction	In vitro method for producing large amounts of specific DNA or RNA fragments of defined length and sequence from small amounts of short oligonucleotide flanking sequences (primers). The essential steps include thermal denaturation of the double-stranded target molecules, annealing of the primers to their complementary sequences, and extension of the annealed primers by enzymatic synthesis with DNA polymerase. The reaction is efficient, specific, and extremely sensitive. Uses for the reaction include disease diagnosis, detection of difficult-to-isolate pathogens, mutation analysis, genetic testing, DNA sequencing, and analyzing evolutionary relationships.	Anchored PCR,Inverse PCR,Nested PCR,PCR,Anchored Polymerase Chain Reaction,Inverse Polymerase Chain Reaction,Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction,PCR, Anchored,PCR, Inverse,PCR, Nested,Polymerase Chain Reactions,Reaction, Polymerase Chain,Reactions, Polymerase Chain
D017207	Rats, Sprague-Dawley	A strain of albino rat used widely for experimental purposes because of its calmness and ease of handling. It was developed by the Sprague-Dawley Animal Company.	Holtzman Rat,Rats, Holtzman,Sprague-Dawley Rat,Rats, Sprague Dawley,Holtzman Rats,Rat, Holtzman,Rat, Sprague-Dawley,Sprague Dawley Rat,Sprague Dawley Rats,Sprague-Dawley Rats