Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2023, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (2): 182-186.doi: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2023.2.11

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Effects of streptozotocin on spermatogenic function and testicular m6A methylase expression in diabetic mice

Meng Xingqi 1, Deng Jing 2,  Peng Lixuan 1, Zhang Yuan 3, Lin Yi 3, Zhou Xiaobing 1, Cao Wenyu 1*, Li Suyun1*   

  1. Hengyang Medical School, University of South China 1.Clinical Anatomy & Reproductive Medicine  Application Institute;  2. Clinical Medicine; 3.Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Cell and Molecular Pathology, Cancer Institute; Hengyang 421001 , Hunan Province, China 
  • Received:2021-09-13 Online:2023-03-25 Published:2023-04-11

Abstract: Objective    To investigate the effects of streptozotocin (STZ) on spermatogenic function and testicular m6A methylase expression in diabetic mice.    Methods   Twenty 8-week-old male ICR mice were randomly divided into a vehicle control group (NS) and a model group (STZ), and an animal model of diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ. Blood glucose and body weight changes were measured on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th week after STZ injection. On the 8th week, testes and epididymis were weighed and the number of sperm was also counted, HE staining was then used to detect sperm motility and testicular morphology changes. Real-time PCR and Western blotting methods were used to detect the expression level of m6A methylase mRNA and protein in the testis of each group of mice.    Results   Compared with the NS group, the fasting blood glucose was significantly increased and body weight was significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01), the weight of the testis and epididymis was significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the number of sperm was significantly decreased (P<0.05); the morphological structure of the testis was destroyed, the seminiferous tubules shrinked, the diameter of the lumen became smaller, the arrangement of spermatogenic cells at all levels was disordered, and the number of sperm in the lumen decreased; the expression of testicular m6A methylases METTL3, FTO, and YTHDF3 mRNA were significantly decreased (P<0.05); the expression of METTL3 and FTO protein were significantly reduced (P<0.05).    Conclusions   The spermatogenesis disorder in STZ-induced diabetic mice may be related to the abnormal expression of m6A methylase METTL3 and FTO in the testis.

Key words: m6A methylation; ,  , Streptozotocin; ,  , Diabetes; ,  ,  Spermatogenic dysfunction

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