Several routes of cell death to secondary necrosis in the elasmobranch testis
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https://hdl.handle.net/10037/26164Date
2022-06-07Type
Journal articleTidsskriftartikkel
Peer reviewed
Author
McClusky, Leon MendelAbstract
The process of spermatogenesis features signifcant germ cell loss through apoptosis. Routine histology of the testes of wellstudied animal models hardly discloses any trace of their phagocytic clearance by the supporting Sertoli cells. This review
highlights lessons learnt from the cystic, diametric testes of some seasonally migrating elasmobranchs (e.g., spiny dogfsh
and blue sharks) that ofer unconventional investigative paradigms to study these phenomena as these organs readily disclose
a pronounced apoptosis gradient afecting exclusively spermatogonial clones that each are enclosed with their own Sertoli
cells in spherical structures called spermatocysts. This gradient is visible at a certain time of year in the spermatogenically
active shark, and peaks in mature spermatogonial cysts as clustered deaths with sporadic, and not massive secondary necrosis. Conversely, immature spermatogonial cysts in blue sharks reveal a characteristic periluminal display of single apoptotic
deaths. Tracing aberrations in the immunostaining patterns of the conserved cell cycle marker, proliferating cell nuclear
antigen, the gradual progression of the death process in individual or coalesced spermatogonia in contiguous cysts becomes
clear. The multiple apoptotic nuclear fragmentation morphologies inform also of a protracted death process involving three
diferent morphological routes of nuclear fragmentation (of which some are TUNEL-positive and other TUNEL-negative)
and concomitant chromatin compaction that culminate in freed apoptotic bodies (i.e., secondary necrosis). It is discussed that
the staggered spermatogonial deaths and accompanying intermittent secondary necrosis in mature blue shark spermatogonial
cysts may well relate to the low phagocytosis capacity of cyst’s Sertoli cells that are still functionally naïve.
Publisher
SpringerCitation
McClusky L. Several routes of cell death to secondary necrosis in the elasmobranch testis. Apoptosis. 2022;27(7-8):454-464Metadata
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