Inhibition of Autophagy in Heat-Stressed Sperm of Adult Mice: A Possible Role of Catsper1, 2 Channel Proteins

Figure 1

(a) Testicular histology and immunohistochemical findings in sham and HS groups. Evaluation of the seminiferous histological marker (testicular modified Johnsen score, seminiferous tubule diameter, and epithelium height) in sham (A) and HS (B) groups, H&E ×400. Evaluation of autophagy marker (LC3β, Beclin-1) in seminiferous tubule. Photomicrographs show immunoreactivity of LC3β ((C) sham and (D) HS groups) and Beclin-1 ((E) sham and (F) HS groups). (b) Evaluation of sperm autophagy marker (LC3β, Beclin-1) and CatSper1, 2 proteins. The positive immunoreactivity of these proteins is shown in brown color in the sperm body. Photomicrographs show immunoreactivity of LC3β ((A) sham and (B) HS groups), Beclin-1 ((C) sham and (D) HS groups), CatSper1 ((E) sham and (F) HS groups), and CatSper2 ((G) sham and (H) HS groups). (I) Abnormal sperm in HS group (A: normal sperm; B: headless sperm; C and E: sperm with an abnormal head; D: short tail sperm).

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