Biology subjects

PRADHAN, B. S.

Publications and source records attributed to PRADHAN, B. S..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

NOR1 and Mitophagy: An Insight into Sertoli Cell Function Regulating Spermatogenesis

The development and differentiation of germ cell (Gc) is supported by the Sertoli cel (Sc). We previously reported that a developmental switch in Sc around 12 days of age onwards in rats. During the process of differentiation of Sc, the differential expression of mitophagy-related genes and its role in male fertility is poorly understood. To address this gap, we evaluated the microarray dataset GSE48795 to identify 12 mitophagy-related hub genes - Egfr, Bcl2, Ccl2, Mmp2, Igf1, Fgf7, Apoe, Fos, Cxcl12, Ocln, Dcn, and Snca. We identify NOR1 as a potential mitophagy-related gene of interest due to its strong regulatory association with two hub genes Bcl2 and Fos. To determine the importance of our analysis of finding key mitophagy-related genes, we generated a transgenic rat model with Sc-specific knockdown of NOR1 during puberty. Adult male transgenic rats were found to be infertile due to impaired spermatogenesis, indicating a critical role for NOR1 in Sc function. These findings suggest that mitophagy-related genes may play an important role in the differentiation of Sc and thereby, regulate male fertility.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Tonic ERK signaling regulate the basal lactate production in prepubertal rat Sertoli cell

Sertoli cells are the major nurse cells in the testis which regulate the division and differentiation of germ cell by secreting various factors like inhibin B, transferrin and lactate. In this study, we demonstrated that inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) leads to an increase in the basal level of lactate. This increase in lactate production was due to the rise in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and glucose uptake, simultaneously. Moreover, an increase in lactate production wasnot due to the change in mRNA level of GLU1, GLUT3 and LDHA. Importantly, the lactate production was independent of the level of cAMP suggesting that the tonic signaling of ERK is important for the growth factor mediated lactate production. These findings suggest that ERK signaling inhibits lactate production in the absence of any stimulant in rat Sertoli cells to maintain metabolic homeostasis.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Generation of a Transgenic Mouse Model for Investigating Mitochondria in Sperm

Mitochondria play a crucial role in the sperm development; however, the mechanisms regulating their function in sperm remain poorly understood. Developing a method to regulate the expression of a target gene within the mitochondria of sperm is a vital step in this area of research. In this study, we aimed to create a system for expressing a transgene in the mitochondria of sperm. As a proof of concept, we generated transgenic mice that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused with a mitochondrial localization signal (MLS) driven by the phosphoglycerate kinase 2 (PGK2) promoter, which facilitates the transgene expression in the sperm. Although the PGK2 promoter has previously shown to drive gene expression in spermatocytes and spermatids, the novelty of our approach lies in the combination of PGK2-driven MLS-GFP expression to study mitochondria in vivo. We established two founder lines of transgenic mice through pronuclear microinjection, and MLS-GFP expression was confirmed in the mitochondria of sperm cells using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Consequently, we provide a novel platform for investigating mitochondrial function in sperm, where GFP can be substituted with other genes of interest to examine their effects on mitochondria. This system specifically targets sperm mitochondria, offering an innovative approach for studying mitochondrial function in vivo.

cell biology↗