Brain and testis: more alike than previously thought?

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Matos, B (Author) Other; Publicover, SJ (Author) Other; Filipe F C Castro (Author) FCUP; Esteves, PJ (Author) FCUP; Fardilha, M (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Open Biology

Vol. 11

ISSN: 2046-2441

Publisher: The Royal Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 18 Citations

Scopus - 19 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-1QR

DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200322

Abstract (EN): Several strands of evidence indicate the presence of marked similarities between human brain and testis. Understanding these similarities and their implications has become a topic of interest among the scientific community. Indeed, an association of intelligence with some semen quality parameters has been reported and a relation between dysfunctions of the human brain and testis has also been evident. Numerous common molecular features are evident when these tissues are compared, which is reflected in the huge number of common proteins. At the functional level, human neurons and sperm share a number of characteristics, including the importance of the exocytotic process and the presence of similar receptors and signalling pathways. The common proteins are mainly involved in exocytosis, tissue development and neuron/brain-associated biological processes. With this analysis, we conclude that human brain and testis share several biochemical characteristics which, in addition to their involvement in the speciation process, could, at least in part, be responsible for the expression of a huge number of common proteins. Nonetheless, this is an underexplored topic, and the connection between these tissues needs to be clarified, which could help to understand the dysfunctions affecting brain and testis, as well as to develop improved therapeutic strategies.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11