Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

nsf-logo[1]

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator (2020)
    • Graduate Abstract Locator (2020)
    • Faculty Abstract Locator (2020)
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • App
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • Video Contest
    • Video Contest Winners
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us

Investigation of Causes of Meiotic Arrest in the Sertoli Cell-Specific Androgen Receptor Knockout Testes

Undergraduate #98
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Genetics

Nadia Harerimana - College of the Atlantic
Co-Author(s): Travis Kent, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME; Mary Ann Handel, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME



Androgen receptor (AR) action in Sertoli cells is required for germ cells to complete meiosis and is crucial for male fertility. The Sertoli cell-specific AR knockout (SCARKO) mouse model exhibits spermatogenic arrest, with germ cells failing to exit meiotic prophase I. Previous studies on the SCARKO mouse model have shown that germ cells of these mice do not complete meiosis and there is also a progressive loss of germ cells. To investigate the cellular mechanisms by which absence of AR signaling in Sertoli cells causes these phenotypes, these experiments took advantage of synchronized spermatogenesis in SCARKO testis to enrich for pachytene cells in meiotic prophase I. Using immunocytological analysis of meiotic chromosome spreads, I quantified the expression of γ-H2AFX, a phosphorylated histone, and the testis-specific histone H1t, which is synthesized in mid-late pachytene spermatocytes. The results show no major difference between SCARKO and wild-type (WT) spermatocytes in the expression of γ-H2AFX or testis-specific histone H1T. In addition, to assess which germ cell-types undergo apoptosis in SCARKO testes, I used a TUNEL assay to detect apoptotic cells at various time points during pachynema. I observed a higher number of apoptotic spermatocytes in SCARKO testis compared to WT testes beginning zygotene. Although apoptosis in germ cells of SCARKO testis is detected in zygotene stages, the surviving SCARKO spermatocytes appear to progress through late pachytene stage in the same manner as WT controls.

Nadia Harerimana,College of the Atlantic,ERN .docx

Funder Acknowledgement(s): This study was supported, in part, by a grant from NIH awarded to Mary Ann Handel and the Maine INBRE fellowship.

Faculty Advisor: Mary Ann Handel, Maryann.handel@jax.org

Role: In this research, I particularly studied the timing apoptosis in the Sertoli cell-specific androgen receptor knockout testes. I used a TUNEL assay to detect apoptotic cells at various time points during pachynema. I observed a higher number of apoptotic spermatocytes in SCARKO testis compared to WT testes beginning zygotene.

ERN Conference

The 2022 ERN Conference has been postponed.

Full Notice

What’s New

  • Congratulations to Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy on her 2021 AAAS Fellowship
  • Event Vaccination and Liability Policy
  • Webinars
  • Events|Opportunities
  • AAAS CEO Comments on Social Unrest, Racism, and Inequality
  • Maintaining Accessibility in Online Teaching During COVID-19
  • In the News
  • HBCU/CREST PI/PD Meeting

Conference Photos

ERN Conference Photo Galleries

Awards

ERN Conference Award Winners

Checking In

nsf-logo[1]

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

The World's Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

 

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law
© 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science