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Changes in the expression of selected testicular genes in mice
Valášková, Eliška ; Margaryan, Hasmik ; Žatecká, Eva ; Pěknicová, Jana
The decrease in population fertility has become a major concern in many developed countries. Recent studies show that infertility is affecting an estimated 15% of all couples (World Health Organization, WHO, 2010). Male infertility is the primary or contributing cause in 60% of cases. Male infertility is caused by a number of factors, such as genetic background, various environmental factors and disease. Diabetes mellitus (DM), a serious health problem on its own, is also suspected to be a contributing factor to male infertility. The aim of this project was to analyze the cellular, molecular and genetic effects of diabetic environment on spermatogenesis and sperm quality and to determine the impact of DM on the in vivo reproduction, using the mouse model (Mus musculus) inbred FVB. Diabetes was induced using streptozotocin. We used our knowledge and tools (unique monoclonal antibodies developed by our group) to determine the status of reproductive organs, anogenital distance, and the quality of sperms. Genetic analysis was performed by a quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). We tested selected genes which are expressed in testicular tissue and thus can influence process of spermatogenesis and consequently the sperm quality. Our preliminary data strongly suggest that DM impairs male fertility. We have found significant changes in the body and reproductive organ weight of mice with DM. We have identified qualitative and quantitative changes in the expression of proteins in epididymal fluid and sperms. We have also detected an increased number of apoptotic cells in sperm of diabetic mice compared to the control group. To our knowledge, there is no study assessing the correlation between DM and “unexplained infertility”. In view of this, it is essential to analyze the effects of DM on male fertility, sperm quality, and reproduction parameters.
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Effect of exposure to bisphenol A on gene expression in the testicular tissue in male mice
Dorosh, Andriy ; Elzeinová, Fatima ; Žatecká, Eva ; Kubátová, Alena ; Pěknicová, Jana
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Prague, Czech Republic Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic, endocrine-disrupting compound able to directly bind estrogen receptors. Free BPA has been detected in human samples indicating that humans are internally exposed to BPA. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of BPA on the male reproductive system and testicular gene expression in germ cells. We studied the influence of long-term low concentration BPA exposition on male fertility in vivo in a two-generation study in C57BL/6 mouse strain. In this work, BPA was added with water at two environmentally relevant concentrations: 0, 4 and 4 µg/l. We measured the reproductive organs weight and sperm cells morphology and quality. Expression of genes involved in endocrine regulation and energy metabolism in testis was analysed after BPA exposure. Next, the epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression and regulation during the germ cell differentiation and effect of BPA will be analysed.
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Gene expression reporters in \kur{Drosophila melanogaster}.
ŠTROS, Jiří
Drosophila melanogaster is a widely used model organism in genetic research and in a number of other disciplines associated with medical and biotechnological issues. The first part of this thesis presents a review of some basic genetic tools and gene expression reporters used in D. melanogaster research with emphasis on the use of GFP reporter. The second part presents a description and results of my experimental work aimed at the reporter construct consisting of adenosine deaminase gene (ADGF-A) and GFP marker. When using gene expression reporters such as GFP, it is important to know whether the presence of reporter does not affect the studied process. The experiment described in this study tested whether the fusion protein consisting of GFP and adenosine deaminase is fully functional enzyme or whether the enzyme activity is influenced by the presence of fluorescent tag. Results of this work support the usefulness of using the fusion construct as a gene expression reporter.
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The role of genetic background of the host on the pathogenesis of tick-borne encephalitis
PALUS, Martin
We examined the influence of the host genetic background on the pathogenesis of tick-borne encephalitis. We determined virus titers in organs and serum in different time intervals post-infection for different ways of inoculation. We also stated mean survival times and antibody production in different strains of mice infected with tick-borne encephalitis virus. Moreover, differences in expression of immunologicaly important genes in brains of infected mice were compared.
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Klastrování genů s podobným regulačním mechanismem během monocytární a garanulocytární diferenciace buněk HL-60
Koutná, I. ; Faltýsková, E. ; Krontorád, P. ; Svoboda, Z. ; Pavlík, T. ; Bártová, Eva ; Kozubek, Michal ; Kozubek, Stanislav
In the present study, a high density-microarrays of human cDNA containing 19,000 genetic elements were used to search for differences in gene expression of human promyelic leukaemia cell line HL-60 during monocyte (MD) and granulocyte differentiation (GD). For differentiation to monocytes (granulocytes), the TPA, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-D-acetate (DMSO) were used, respectively. A total number of 4625 (4760) genes were found to be regulated during MD (GD). The genes have been divided into groups according to their kinetics of regulation (R-groups). The genes of the same group are not distributed randomly throughout the genome but form clusters on chromosomes (R-clusters). Thus, functionally interconnected genes are frequently localized near to each other on the DNA molecule.
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