The Functions of UCH L1 on the Apoptosis of Spermatocytes in Cryptorchid Testes of Mice Were Related with Its Coordinated Up-Regulation with Jab1 and p27kip1.

UCH L1 was specifically expressed in a high level in brain and gonads of vertebrates. In the testes, UCH L1 was reported to be involved in the apoptosis of spermatogenetic cells but UCH L1 generally occurred in the spermatogonia and Sertoli cells in adult mouse testes, so it was still unclear about its mechanisms. In this paper, C57 BL/6J mice of unilateral cryptorchidism were prepared as model to reveal UCH L1 functions in the apoptosis of spermatocytes. We found UCH L1 was concentrated in apoptotic spermatocytes, and co-localized with Jab1 and p27kip1. Then we proposed that the heat-induced up-regulation of UCH L1 expression is involved in the apoptosis of spermatocytes in cryptorchid testes; Jab1 and p27kip1 association with UCH L1 in response to heat stress underlay the related molecular mechanisms.