Low 17beta-Estradiol Levels in Cnr1 Knock-Out Mice Affect Spermatid Chromatin Remodeling by Interfering with Chromatin Reorganization

• Published in: Biology of reproduction 2013-06, Vol.88 (6), p.152-152
• Main Authors: CACCIOLA, Giovanna, CHIOCCARELLI, Teresa, ALTUCCI, Lucia, LEDENT, Catherine, MASON, J. Ian, FASANO, Silvia, PIERANTONI, Riccardo, COBELLIS, Gilda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Aromatase - genetics; Aromatase - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Chromatin - metabolism; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly - drug effects; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly - physiology; Estradiol - blood; Estradiol - pharmacology; Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit - genetics; Follicle Stimulating Hormone, beta Subunit - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - genetics; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pituitary Gland - drug effects; Pituitary Gland - metabolism; Psychodysleptics: hallucinogen; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 - genetics; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 - metabolism; Receptors, FSH - genetics; Receptors, FSH - metabolism; Receptors, LHRH - genetics; Receptors, LHRH - metabolism; Spermatids - drug effects; Spermatids - metabolism; Spermatogenesis - drug effects; Spermatogenesis - physiology; Testis - drug effects; Testis - metabolism; Vertebrates: reproduction
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.105726

The type 1-cannabinoid receptor, CNR1, regulates differentiation of spermatids. Indeed, we have recently reported that the genetic inactivation of Cnr1 in mice influenced chromatin remodeling of spermatids, by reducing histone displacement and then sperm chromatin quality indices (chromatin condensation and DNA integrity). Herein, we have studied, at both central and testicular levels, the molecular signals potentially involved in histone displacement. In particular, investigation of the neuroendocrine axis involved in estrogen production demonstrated down-regulation of the axis supporting FSH/estrogen secretion in Cnr1-knockout male mice. Conversely, Cnr1-knockout male mice treated with 17beta-estradiol showed a weak increase of pituitary Fsh-beta subunit mRNA levels and a rescue of sperm chromatin quality indices demonstrating that estrogens, possibly in combination with FSH secretion, play an important role in regulating chromatin remodeling of spermatids.