This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dejucq, N. Articles by Jégou, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dejucq, N. Articles by Jégou, B.

Expression of Interferons- and - in Testicular Interstitial Tissue and Spermatogonia of the Rat¹

GERM-INSERM U-435, Université de Rennes I, Campus de Beaulieu, 35 042 Rennes, Bretagne, France

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Bernard Jégou, GERM-INSERM U-435, Université de Rennes I, Campus de Beaulieu, 35 042 Rennes Cedex, Bretagne, France. E-mail: bernard.jegou{at}rennes.inserm.fr

The testis is divided into two compartments: the seminiferous tubules and the interstitial tissue. The latter essentially consists of the blood and lymphatic vessels, testosterone-producing Leydig cells, and testicular macrophages. In the exploration of the testicular antiviral defense system, we initially searched for interferon (IFN) production by the seminiferous tubule cells. The site of virus entry into the testis is probably the interstitial compartment; thus, it is important to know whether and how the cells in this compartment are protected against viral infection. In addition, as germ cell precursors (spermatogonia) are only partially protected by the blood-testis barrier, it was important to explore the antiviral capability of these cells.

In this study we searched for IFN production by Leydig cells, testicular macrophages, and spermatogonia after exposure to Sendai virus. We also investigated the effect of viral exposure on testosterone production by Leydig cells. Our results show that spermatogonia do not constitutively express IFNs and give a very poor response to the virus. In contrast, testicular macrophages constitutively produced type I IFNs, and this production was markedly stimulated by Sendai virus. Leydig cells produced twice as much type I IFNs as testicular macrophages after viral exposure, and they were the only cells producing both IFN and -, with these IFNs being dramatically induced/increased in response to exposure to the virus. Furthermore, incubation of Leydig cells with the Sendai virus stimulated testosterone production. In conclusion, this study further establishes the topography of IFN expression within the testis. This allows us to hypothesize that the potential antiviral system represented by Leydig cells and, to a lesser extent, by macrophages plays a key role in protecting both androgen production and spermatogenesis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Le Tortorec, H. Denis, A-P. Satie, J-J. Patard, A. Ruffault, B. Jegou, and N. Dejucq-Rainsford Antiviral responses of human Leydig cells to mumps virus infection or poly I:C stimulation Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2008; 23(9): 2095 - 2103. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Dal Secco, A. Riccioli, F. Padula, E. Ziparo, and A. Filippini Mouse Sertoli Cells Display Phenotypical and Functional Traits of Antigen-Presenting Cells in Response to Interferon Gamma Biol Reprod, February 1, 2008; 78(2): 234 - 242. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Grafstrom, B.-A. Jonsson, A. M. El Hassan, J. Tennvall, and S.-E. Strand Rat testis as a radiobiological in vivo model for radionuclides Radiat Prot Dosimetry, April 1, 2006; 118(1): 32 - 42. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. D. Mruk and C. Y. Cheng Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli-Germ Cell Interactions and Their Significance in Germ Cell Movement in the Seminiferous Epithelium during Spermatogenesis Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2004; 25(5): 747 - 806. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Melaine, A. Ruffault, N. Dejucq-Rainsford, and B. Jegou Experimental inoculation of the adult rat testis with Sendai virus: effect on testicular morphology and leukocyte population Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2003; 18(8): 1574 - 1579. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Com, F. Bourgeon, B. Evrard, T. Ganz, D. Colleu, B. Jegou, and C. Pineau Expression of Antimicrobial Defensins in the Male Reproductive Tract of Rats, Mice, and Humans Biol Reprod, January 1, 2003; 68(1): 95 - 104. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Melaine, M.-O. Lienard, I. Dorval, C. Le Goascogne, H. Lejeune, and B. Jegou Multidrug Resistance Genes and P-Glycoprotein in the Testis of the Rat, Mouse, Guinea Pig, and Human Biol Reprod, December 1, 2002; 67(6): 1699 - 1707. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. Chacko, X. Ma, and M. L. Adamo Double-Stranded Ribonucleic Acid Decreases C6 Rat Glioma Cell Proliferation in Part by Activating Protein Kinase R and Decreasing Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Levels Endocrinology, June 1, 2002; 143(6): 2144 - 2154. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Le Goffic, T. Mouchel, F. Aubry, J.-J. Patard, A. Ruffault, B. Jegou, and M. Samson Production of the Chemokines Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1, Regulated on Activation Normal T Cell Expressed and Secreted Protein, Growth-Related Oncogene, and Interferon-{gamma}-Inducible Protein-10 Is Induced by the Sendai Virus in Human and Rat Testicular Cells Endocrinology, April 1, 2002; 143(4): 1434 - 1440. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Dejucq and B. Jegou Viruses in the Mammalian Male Genital Tract and Their Effects on the Reproductive System Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev., June 1, 2001; 65(2): 208 - 231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Aubry, C. Habasque, A.-P. Satie, B. Jégou, and M. Samson Expression and Regulation of the CC-Chemokine Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 in Rat Testicular Cells in Primary Culture Biol Reprod, May 1, 2000; 62(5): 1427 - 1435. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J Stephan, N Melaine, E Ezan, H Hakovirta, S Maddocks, J Toppari, D Garnier, J Wdzieczak-Bakala, and B Jegou Source, catabolism and role of the tetrapeptide N-acetyl-ser-asp-lys-Pro within the testis J. Cell Sci., January 1, 2000; 113(1): 113 - 121. [Abstract] [PDF]