The relationship between sperm secretion and the Hippo signaling pathway in the rat seminiferous tubules

The Hippo signaling pathway has been demonstrated to be crucial in many stages such as cell division, death, or proliferation. Studies have also shown that the Hippo pathway is highly influenced by actin proteins and cytoskeletons. The effect of this pathway on the testis is not fully known. For this reason, we created an experimental rat model in which the actin Cytoskeleton and actin-associated proteins are affected by adjudin to perform the sperm secretion model. The control (no treatment), sham control (only methylcellulose treated), and experimental (methylcellulose and adjudin treated) groups were created. At 0, 6, 12, 24 and 96 hours, the testis samples evaluated in terms of the Hippo signaling pathway via immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and RT-qPCR methods. The control and sham control groups showed similar characteristics in each hour period. The experimental group showed properties similar to those of the control and sham control groups at the 0th hour. But especially at the 96th hour, it was clear that actin distribution and Hippo signaling pathway components of yes-associated protein (YAP) and phospho-YAP had declined in the experimental group. In conclusion, Hippo signaling is important in the time-dependent change of actin Cytoskeleton in testis and may function together in the sperm secretion period.

Actin cytoskeleton; Hippo signaling pathway; Sperm secretion; Testis; YAP.