MTCH2 is differentially expressed in rat testis and mainly related to apoptosis of spermatocytes.

MTCH2 has been described in liver as a protein involved in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, although new evidence also associates this protein with cellular metabolism. In this work, the expression of MTCH2 in testis (an organ in which high levels of apoptosis normally take place as part of the spermatogenic process) is analyzed in rat, both at the mRNA and at the protein levels. Our results showed that MTCH2 was highly expressed in testis compared with other tissues and was differentially expressed according to developmental stage and testicular cell type. Protein expression was initially detected during the first spermatogenic wave at the time of meiosis onset and its levels increased in adulthood, with the highest expression levels being detected in meiotic prophase I. Specific differences in MTCH2 expression levels at the various stages of the adult seminiferous epithelium were also observed. Co-staining with TUNEL revealed a differential MTCH2 staining pattern in TUNEL-positive cells, mainly in dying primary spermatocytes, i.e., meiotic prophase I cells. Furthermore, upon mild hyperthermia (treatment shown to increase apoptosis in testis), MTCH2 levels rose concomitantly with a massive appearance of TUNEL-positive cells within the seminiferous tubules; these cells exhibited a differential MTCH2 distribution. Thus, MTCH2 is related to testicular apoptosis, especially during meiotic prophase.

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