• PMID: 29045475
• Gene Name: PTBP2
• Condition: Stress induced sperm cell injury, non-obstructive azoospermia
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Stress induced sperm cell injury, non-obstructive azoospermia

Association between RNA-binding protein Ptbp2 and germ cell injury in an experimentally-induced unilateral cryptorchidism murine model

Dou X, Gao J, Gao P, Tang D, Peng D, Mao J, Huang Z, Chen P, Chen H, Ke S, Liang C, Zhang X.

RNA binding protein polypyrimidine tract binding protein 2 (Ptbp2) as a key alternative splicing regulator for male germ cell development is well established. However, its expression levels and role in cryptorchidism testes tissues has not been explored. Additionally, the molecular mechanism of heat stress impacts the correct proliferation and differentiation of germ cells is unclear. To investigate whether changes in Ptbp2 expression are correlated with heat stress-induced germ cell injury in testicular tissue, we used a murine model of intraperitoneal cryptorchidism with surgical operation. Here we present compelling evidence that germ cells are severely damaged in mice with unilateral cryptorchidism, with non-obstructive azoospermia. And the Ptbp2 and Pgk2 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in parallel, leading us to conclude that the negative correlation between Ptbp2 levels and germ cell injury in unilateral cryptorchidism murine model. We hypothesize that Ptbp2 is susceptible to heat stress and its disruption has resulted in stability decline of germ cell transcripts Pgk2 mRNA, which consequently lead to germ cell injury in cryptorchidism testes. Thus, we confirm that Ptbp2 is an essential factor in heat stress-induced sperm cell injury and non-obstructive azoospermia. FAU - Dou, Xianming AU - Dou X AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-6125-3923 AD - Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China. FAU - Gao, Jingjing AU - Gao J AD - Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China. FAU - Gao, Pan AU - Gao P AD - Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China. FAU - Tang, Dongdong AU - Tang D AD - Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China. FAU - Peng, Dangwei AU - Peng D AD - Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China. FAU - Mao, Jun AU - Mao J AD - Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China. FAU - Huang, Zhenyu AU - Huang Z AD - Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China. FAU - Chen, Peng AU - Chen P AD - Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China. FAU - Chen, He AU - Chen H AD - Department of Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China. FAU - Ke, Shengwei AU - Ke S AD - Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China. FAU - Liang, Chaozhao AU - Liang C AD - Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.