This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Connor, W. E. Articles by Neuringer, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Connor, W. E. Articles by Neuringer, M.

Biochemical Markers for Puberty in the Monkey Testis: Desmosterol and Docosahexaenoic Acid¹

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon 97201; and Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon 97006

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: William E. Connor, M.D., Department of Medicine, L-465, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon 97201-3098.

We previously reported that the sperm of rhesus monkeys and humans uniquely contain large amounts of desmosterol not found in other tissues and have a high concentration of the highly polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3). However, the lipid composition of the testis, from which sperm originate, is unknown. During puberty, the testis undergoes remarkable morphological changes as testosterone levels rise and sperm production begins. We hypothesized that testicular maturation might also involve dramatic changes in lipid composition. Accordingly, we characterized the sterol and fatty acid composition of the testis of rhesus monkeys throughout the lifespan, from birth to old age.

Although the cholesterol content in the testis remained relatively unchanged throughout life, the desmosterol content first decreased from 59 µg/g in infants to 6 µg/g in prepubertal monkeys, increased to 83 µg/g during puberty, and reached a plateau of 248 µg/g in the young adult, where it remained into old age. The polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of the testis also changed markedly. Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3) increased from 5.1% of total fatty acids in infants and juveniles to 18.1% in postpubertal young adults. Although some n-6 fatty acids, arachidonic (20:4 n-6) and linoleic (18:2 n-6), decreased from 16.0% and 10.0% in prepubertal juveniles, respectively, to 7.1% and 3.3% in young adults; dihomogamma-linolenic acid (20:3 n-6), the precursor of 1 series PGs, increased greatly from 1.8% to 10.3%. Similar changes occurred in both membrane and storage lipids (phospholipids and triglycerides), respectively. After puberty, the testicular fatty acid pattern remained stable into old age.

Our data demonstrated that puberty is accompanied by substantial changes in the lipid composition of the primate testis. These changes suggest that desmosterol and both n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids may have important roles in sexual maturation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. D. Stark, S.-Y. Lim, and N. Salem Jr. Artificial rearing with docosahexaenoic acid and n-6 docosapentaenoic acid alters rat tissue fatty acid composition J. Lipid Res., November 1, 2007; 48(11): 2471 - 2477. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. E. Furland, E. N. Maldonado, P. A. Aresti, and M. I. Aveldano Changes in Lipids Containing Long- and Very Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Cryptorchid Rat Testes Biol Reprod, July 1, 2007; 77(1): 181 - 188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. S. Lin, M. Neuringer, and W. E. Connor Selective changes of docosahexaenoic acid-containing phospholipid molecular species in monkey testis during puberty J. Lipid Res., March 1, 2004; 45(3): 529 - 535. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Saether, T. N. Tran, H. Rootwelt, B. O. Christophersen, and T. B. Haugen Expression and Regulation of {Delta}5-Desaturase, {Delta}6-Desaturase, Stearoyl-Coenzyme A (CoA) Desaturase 1, and Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase 2 in Rat Testis Biol Reprod, July 1, 2003; 69(1): 117 - 124. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Baltsen Gonadotropin-Induced Accumulation of 4,4-Dimethylsterols in Mouse Ovaries and Its Temporal Relation to Meiosis Biol Reprod, December 1, 2001; 65(6): 1743 - 1750. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Lindenthal, T. A. Aldaghlas, J. K. Kelleher, S. M. Henkel, R. Tolba, G. Haidl, and K. von Bergmann Neutral sterols of rat epididymis: high concentrations of dehydrocholesterols in rat caput epididymidis J. Lipid Res., July 1, 2001; 42(7): 1089 - 1095. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. LINDENTHAL, A. L. HOLLERAN, T. A. ALDAGHLAS, B. RUAN, G. J. SCHROEPFER Jr, W. K. WILSON, and J. K. KELLEHER Progestins block cholesterol synthesis to produce meiosis-activating sterols FASEB J, March 1, 2001; 15(3): 775 - 784. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Ruan, J. Tsai, W. K. Wilson, and G. J. Schroepfer , Jr. Aberrant pathways in the late stages of cholesterol biosynthesis in the rat: origin and metabolic fate of unsaturated sterols relevant to the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome J. Lipid Res., November 1, 2000; 41(11): 1772 - 1782. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				W. E. Connor, D. S. Lin, D. P. Wolf, and M. Alexander Uneven distribution of desmosterol and docosahexaenoic acid in the heads and tails of monkey sperm1 J. Lipid Res., July 1, 1998; 39(7): 1404 - 1411. [Abstract] [Full Text]