<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Objective.</bold> The exact mechanism, by which spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to a male subfertility is not well-known. Present study was conducted to determine the mechanisms that lead to the elevated end-product cytokines and inflammasomes in the testes of an SCI rat model. Moreover, we evaluated the inflammasome components following SCI in testis over a defined time periods.<bold>Methods.</bold> Weight drop technique was used to induce SCI at the level of the T10 vertebra in male Wistar rats. The animals were sacrificed at specific time intervals (3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 day’s post-SCI). mRNA levels of inflammasomes and cytokines were measured by real-time PCR, germ cells apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL staining, and the epithelium of seminiferous tubules by Miller’s and Johnsen’s scores.<bold>Results.</bold> The results showed activation of <italic>Nlrp3</italic> in the testes of SCI animals at different time points. Expression of <italic>Nlrp3</italic> and <italic>IL-1β</italic> sharply increased 14 days after the SCI. Upregulation of <italic>IL-1β</italic> and <italic>IL-18</italic> at days 14 and 21 post-SCI might disintegrate the epithelium of seminiferous tubules at day 14 and induce germ cells apoptosis, increase abnormal sperm cells, and attenuate motility and viability at 21 days post-SCI.<bold>Conclusion.</bold> This study provided further evidence of innate immunity activation in testes that could lead to more disruption of spermatogenesis in SCI patients at specific times.</abstract>

Objective. The exact mechanism, by which spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to a male subfertility is not well-known. Present study was conducted to determine the mechanisms that lead to the elevated end-product cytokines and inflammasomes in the testes of an SCI rat model. Moreover, we evaluated the inflammasome components following SCI in testis over a defined time periods.Methods. Weight drop technique was used to induce SCI at the level of the T10 vertebra in male Wistar rats. The animals were sacrificed at specific time intervals (3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 day’s post-SCI). mRNA levels of inflammasomes and cytokines were measured by real-time PCR, germ cells apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL staining, and the epithelium of seminiferous tubules by Miller’s and Johnsen’s scores.Results. The results showed activation of Nlrp3 in the testes of SCI animals at different time points. Expression of Nlrp3 and IL-1β sharply increased 14 days after the SCI. Upregulation of IL-1β and IL-18 at days 14 and 21 post-SCI might disintegrate the epithelium of seminiferous tubules at day 14 and induce germ cells apoptosis, increase abnormal sperm cells, and attenuate motility and viability at 21 days post-SCI.Conclusion. This study provided further evidence of innate immunity activation in testes that could lead to more disruption of spermatogenesis in SCI patients at specific times.

Involvement of Asc and Nlrp3 inflammasomes in the testes following spinal cord injury

Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine

Endocrine Regulations

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Objective. The exact mechanism, by which spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to a male subfertility is not well-known. Present study was conducted to determine the...

Involvement of Asc and Nlrp3 inflammasomes in the testes following spinal cord injury

Online veröffentlicht: 08. Mai 2020

Seitenbereich: 96 - 108

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/enr-2020-0012

Schlüsselwörter
inflammasomes, spinal cord injury, testis

© 2020 Hajar Ramezanikhah et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Involvement of Asc and Nlrp3 inflammasomes in the testes following spinal cord injury

Online veröffentlicht: 08. Mai 2020

Seitenbereich: 96 - 108

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/enr-2020-0012

Schlüsselwörterinflammasomes, spinal cord injury, testis

© 2020 Hajar Ramezanikhah et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Schlüsselwörter
inflammasomes, spinal cord injury, testis