Bernardino Raquel L, Martins Ana D, Jesus Tito T, Sá Rosália, Sousa Mário, Alves Marco G, Oliveira Pedro F
Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Microscopy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Unit for Multidisciplinary Investigation in Biomedicine (UMIB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Mol Cell Biochem. 2015 Oct;408(1-2):47-54. doi: 10.1007/s11010-015-2481-4. Epub 2015 Jun 23.
The formation of competent spermatozoa is a complex event that depends on the establishment of adequate environments throughout the male reproductive tract. Bicarbonate is essential not only to ionic homeostasis but also to pH maintenance along the male reproductive tract. Previous studies support an association of high 17β-estradiol (E2) levels with modulation of specific ion transporters expression. Herein we determined the effect of E2 on the expression/functionality of SLC4 family bicarbonate transporters in rat Sertoli cells (SCs). All studied transporters [anion exchanger 2 (AE2), Na(+)-driven Cl(-)/HCO3 (-) exchanger (NDCBE), electrogenic Na(+)/HCO3 (-) co-transporters (NBCe1), and electroneutral Na(+)/HCO3 (-) co-transporters (NBCn1)] were identified in SCs, being AE2 and NBCn1 the most abundant. In E2-treated cells (100 nM), increases in AE2 and NBCn1 protein levels were observed, as well as altered transcellular transport. E2-treated SCs presented a significant perturbation of ATP-induced short-circuit current. This alteration was concurrent with augmented AE2 and NBCn1 levels. Overall, we report a relation between increased E2 levels and the expression/function of AE2 and NBCn1 in rat SCs, providing new evidence on the mechanisms by which E2 can regulate SCs physiology and consequently spermatogenesis, with direct influence on male reproductive potential.
有功能精子的形成是一个复杂的过程，这取决于整个雄性生殖道中适宜环境的建立。碳酸氢盐不仅对离子稳态至关重要，而且对维持雄性生殖道的pH值也必不可少。先前的研究支持高17β-雌二醇（E2）水平与特定离子转运蛋白表达的调节之间存在关联。在此，我们确定了E2对大鼠支持细胞（SCs）中SLC4家族碳酸氢盐转运蛋白表达/功能的影响。在SCs中鉴定出了所有研究的转运蛋白[阴离子交换蛋白2（AE2）、钠驱动的氯/碳酸氢根交换蛋白（NDCBE）、电中性钠/碳酸氢根共转运蛋白（NBCe1）和电中性钠/碳酸氢根共转运蛋白（NBCn1）]，其中AE2和NBCn1最为丰富。在E2处理的细胞（100 nM）中，观察到AE2和NBCn1蛋白水平增加，以及跨细胞转运改变。E2处理的SCs出现了ATP诱导的短路电流的显著扰动。这种改变与AE2和NBCn1水平的增加同时发生。总体而言，我们报告了大鼠SCs中E2水平升高与AE2和NBCn1的表达/功能之间的关系，为E2调节SCs生理进而影响精子发生的机制提供了新证据，这对雄性生殖潜能有直接影响。
