Biol Reprod Track the topics, authors and articles important to you
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow My Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Blanco-Rodríguez, J.
Right arrow Articles by Martínez-García, C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Blanco-Rodríguez, J.
Right arrow Articles by Martínez-García, C.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Blanco-Rodríguez, J.
Right arrow Articles by Martínez-García, C.
Biology of Reproduction 61, 1541-1547 (1999)
©Copyright 1999 Society for the Study of Reproduction, Inc.


Articles

Apoptosis Is Physiologically Restricted to a Specialized Cytoplasmic Compartment in Rat Spermatids

Josefa Blanco-Rodríguez1,a, and Carmen Martínez-Garcíaa

a Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Valladolid University, 47005 Valladolid, Spain

Cytoplasmic caudal tags of maturing spermatids condense and are detached from the spermatidal cells just before the spermatids are released as spermatozoa. The detached cytoplasmic masses are termed "residual bodies." Features of residual bodies seem to be compatible with those of apoptosis and, just as occurs with apoptotic bodies, residual bodies are phagocytosed by Sertoli cells. Since in vitro studies have demonstrated that nucleus and cytoplasm apoptosis events can be independent phenomena, we reasoned that apoptosis pathways might be restricted to the caudal tag of the maturing spermatids in order to originate residual bodies. Consistent with this idea, here we showed that annexin V specifically bound the membranes of isolated residual bodies and that expression levels of caspase-1, c-jun, p53, and p21 were specifically increased in these cytoplasmic compartments. Electron microscopy of cytoplasmic lobes and residual bodies confirmed that their ultrastructural features were those of apoptosis. These data indicate that the mechanism responsible for the formation of residual bodies is similar to that for apoptotic bodies; and the study presents evidence, for the first time, that apoptotic signaling molecules can be restricted to a cytoplasmic compartment and proceed in the presence of a healthy nucleus.

1 Correspondence: Josefa Blanco Rodríguez, Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Ramón y Cajal, 7, 47005 Valladolid, Spain. FAX: 34 983 423022; jblanco{at}oem.es




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Biol. Reprod.Home page
M. G. Yefimova, A. Sow, I. Fontaine, V. Guilleminot, N. Martinat, P. Crepieux, S. Canepa, M.-C. Maurel, S. Fouchecourt, E. Reiter, et al.
Dimeric Transferrin Inhibits Phagocytosis of Residual Bodies by Testicular Rat Sertoli Cells
Biol Reprod, April 1, 2008; 78(4): 697 - 704.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Biol. CellHome page
H. Yamada, E. Ohashi, T. Abe, N. Kusumi, S.-A. Li, Y. Yoshida, M. Watanabe, K. Tomizawa, Y. Kashiwakura, H. Kumon, et al.
Amphiphysin 1 Is Important for Actin Polymerization during Phagocytosis
Mol. Biol. Cell, November 1, 2007; 18(11): 4669 - 4680.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
DevelopmentHome page
E. Shang, H. D. Nickerson, D. Wen, X. Wang, and D. J. Wolgemuth
The first bromodomain of Brdt, a testis-specific member of the BET sub-family of double-bromodomain-containing proteins, is essential for male germ cell differentiation
Development, October 1, 2007; 134(19): 3507 - 3515.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
C. Almeida, M. F.Cardoso, M. Sousa, P. Viana, A. Goncalves, J. Silva, and A. Barros
Quantitative study of caspase-3 activity in semen and after swim-up preparation in relation to sperm quality
Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2005; 20(5): 1307 - 1313.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
M. Muratori, S. Marchiani, G. Forti, and E. Baldi
Sperm ubiquitination positively correlates to normal morphology in human semen
Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2005; 20(4): 1035 - 1043.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Biol. Reprod.Home page
J. Oyhenart, S. Benichou, and N. Raich
Putative Homeodomain Transcription Factor 1 Interacts with the Feminization Factor Homolog Fem1b in Male Germ Cells
Biol Reprod, April 1, 2005; 72(4): 780 - 787.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Biol. Reprod.Home page
N. Takano, H. Matusi, and T. Takahashi
Granzyme N, a Novel Granzyme, Is Expressed in Spermatocytes and Spermatids of the Mouse Testis
Biol Reprod, December 1, 2004; 71(6): 1785 - 1795.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol Hum ReprodHome page
S.L. Taylor, S.L. Weng, P. Fox, E.H. Duran, M.S. Morshedi, S. Oehninger, and S.J. Beebe
Somatic cell apoptosis markers and pathways in human ejaculated sperm: potential utility as indicators of sperm quality
Mol. Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2004; 10(11): 825 - 834.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum Reprod UpdateHome page
T. M. Said, U. Paasch, H.-J. Glander, and A. Agarwal
Role of caspases in male infertility
Hum. Reprod. Update, January 1, 2004; 10(1): 39 - 51.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
M. H. Moustafa, R. K. Sharma, J. Thornton, E. Mascha, M. A. Abdel-Hafez, A. J. Thomas, and A. Agarwal
Relationship between ROS production, apoptosis and DNA denaturation in spermatozoa from patients examined for infertility
Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2004; 19(1): 129 - 138.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Biol. Reprod.Home page
K.J. de Vries, T. Wiedmer, P.J. Sims, and B.M. Gadella
Caspase-Independent Exposure of Aminophospholipids and Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Bicarbonate Responsive Human Sperm Cells
Biol Reprod, June 1, 2003; 68(6): 2122 - 2134.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J AndrolHome page
U. Paasch, S. Grunewald, G. Fitzl, and H.-J. Glander
Deterioration of Plasma Membrane Is Associated With Activated Caspases in Human Spermatozoa
J Androl, March 1, 2003; 24(2): 246 - 252.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol Hum ReprodHome page
S.-L. Weng, S. L. Taylor, M. Morshedi, A. Schuffner, E.H. Duran, S. Beebe, and S. Oehninger
Caspase activity and apoptotic markers in ejaculated human sperm
Mol. Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2002; 8(11): 984 - 991.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
J. Tesarik, F. Martinez, L. Rienzi, M. Iacobelli, F. Ubaldi, C. Mendoza, and E. Greco
In-vitro effects of FSH and testosterone withdrawal on caspase activation and DNA fragmentation in different cell types of human seminiferous epithelium
Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2002; 17(7): 1811 - 1819.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Biol. Reprod.Home page
B.M. Gadella and R.A.P. Harrison
Capacitation Induces Cyclic Adenosine 3',5'-Monophosphate-Dependent, but Apoptosis-Unrelated, Exposure of Aminophospholipids at the Apical Head Plasma Membrane of Boar Sperm Cells
Biol Reprod, July 1, 2002; 67(1): 340 - 350.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
F. Martinez, L. Rienzi, M. Iacobelli, F. Ubaldi, C. Mendoza, E. Greco, and J. Tesarik
Caspase activity in preimplantation human embryos is not associated with apoptosis
Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2002; 17(6): 1584 - 1590.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Biol. Reprod.Home page
D. Sakkas, O. Moffatt, G. C. Manicardi, E. Mariethoz, N. Tarozzi, and D. Bizzaro
Nature of DNA Damage in Ejaculated Human Spermatozoa and the Possible Involvement of Apoptosis
Biol Reprod, April 1, 2002; 66(4): 1061 - 1067.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum ReprodHome page
J. Tesarik, E. Greco, and C. Mendoza
Assisted reproduction with in-vitro-cultured testicular spermatozoa in cases of severe germ cell apoptosis: a pilot study
Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2001; 16(12): 2640 - 2645.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Biol. Reprod.Home page
S. G. Moréno, B. Dutrillaux, and H. Coffigny
Status of p53, p21, mdm2, pRb Proteins, and DNA Methylation in Gonocytes of Control and {{gamma}}-Irradiated Rats During Testicular Development
Biol Reprod, May 1, 2001; 64(5): 1422 - 1431.
[Abstract] [Full Text]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1999 by the Society for the Study of Reproduction.