Global changes in epigenomes during mouse spermatogenesis: possible relation to germ cell apoptosis

Mammalian spermatogenesis is characterized by disproportionate germ cell apoptosis. The high frequency of apoptosis is considered a safety mechanism that serves to avoid unfavorable transmission of paternal aberrant genetic information to the offspring as well as elimination mechanism for removal of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Histochemistry and cell biology 2020-08, Vol.154 (2), p.123-134
Main Authors: Koji, Takehiko, Shibata, Yasuaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Apoptosis
Apoptosis - genetics
Bcl-2 protein
Biochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Cell Biology
Chromatin - chemistry
Chromatin - genetics
Chromatin - metabolism
Chromatin remodeling
Developmental Biology
Endocrine disruptors
Environmental factors
Epigenetics
Epigenome - genetics
FasL protein
Gene expression
Genomes
Germ cells
Germ Cells - metabolism
Germ Cells - pathology
Mammals
Mice
Mitochondria
Molecular modelling
Review
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis - genetics
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Summary:Mammalian spermatogenesis is characterized by disproportionate germ cell apoptosis. The high frequency of apoptosis is considered a safety mechanism that serves to avoid unfavorable transmission of paternal aberrant genetic information to the offspring as well as elimination mechanism for removal of overproduced immature or damaged spermatogenic cells. The molecular mechanisms involved in the induction of germ cell apoptosis include both intrinsic mitochondrial Bcl-2/Bax and extrinsic Fas/FasL pathways. However, little is known about the nuclear trigger of those systems. Recent studies indicate that epigenomes are essential in the regulation of gene expression through remodeling of the chromatin structure, and are genome-like transmission materials that reflect the effects of various environmental factors. In spermatogenesis, epigenetic errors can act as the trigger for elimination of germ cells with abnormal chromatin structure, abnormal gene expression and/or morphological defects (disordered differentiation). In this review, we focus on the relationship between global changes in epigenetic parameters and germ cell apoptosis in mice and other mammals.
ISSN:0948-6143
1432-119X
DOI:10.1007/s00418-020-01900-x