Stromal interaction molecule 1 is required for neonatal testicular development in mice

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 504; no. 4; pp. 909 - 915
• Main Authors: Shen, Cong, Zhang, Ke, Yu, Jun, Guo, Yueshuai, Gao, Tingting, Liu, Yuanyuan, Zhang, Xi, Chen, Xia, Yu, Yi, Cheng, Hongbo, Zheng, Aiyan, Li, Hong, Huang, Xiaoyan, Ding, Xufeng, Zheng, Bo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 12.10.2018
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; CALCIUM IONS; ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM; GERM CELLS; MICE; Neonatal testicular development; OXYGEN; ROS; Sertoli cells; STIM1; TESTES; Mo; DDX4; LIN28; GATA4; Sertoli cells; TUNEL; STIM1; SSCs; ROS; SOCE; SOX9; Neonatal testicular development; Wnt
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.09.044

Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) is a transmembrane endoplasmic reticulum protein, and it serves as a Ca2+ sensor and activator of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). We have previously identified STIM1 in the proteome profile of mice neonatal testes, revealing STIM1 to be associated with neonatal testicular development. Here, to further explore the location and function of STIM1 in mice testes, we studied the effect of Stim1 gene knockdown on neonatal testicular development by testicular culture. Our results revealed that STIM1 was primarily located in Sertoli cells. Knockdown of Stim1 gene using morpholino in neonatal testis caused the mislocation of Sertoli cells and loss of germ cells, which were associated with the aberrant reactive oxygen species (ROS) activation, while inhibition of ROS could partly rescue the phenotypes caused by Stim1 gene knockdown. In conclusion, our study suggests that STIM1 can maintain neonatal testicular development by inhibiting ROS activation. •STIM1 is found in Sertoli cells and associated with neonatal testicular development.•STIM1 is required for Sertoli cell orientation and germ cell survival.•Stim1 knockdown in neonatal testis altered the testicular phenotype and induced ROS.•ROS inhibition partially rescued the Stim1 knockdown phenotype in neonatal testes.•STIM1 can maintain neonatal testicular development by inhibiting ROS activation.