In memoriam: Clarke F. Millette, PhD 1947–2021

Molecular Reproduction and Development · 2022-02-21

In Memoriam: Stuart B. Moss, PhD, April 1, 1950–November 13, 2021

Andrology · 2021-12-15

Andrology lost one of its staunchest supporters with the recent death of Stuart B. Moss, PhD, in Washington, DC, on Saturday, November 13, 2021. Stuart received his undergraduate degree with honors from Union College in 1972 and then attended graduate school at the University of Rochester, where he received his PhD working in the laboratory of Jerome Kaye. From 1980 to 1985, he was a Research Fellow in Physiology at Harvard Medical School with Anthony Bellvé and, from 1985 to 1989, was Staff Scientist in the laboratory of Mark Groudine at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. In 1989, he moved to Philadelphia to join the faculty of the Temple University School of Medicine and was recruited in 1992 to join the Center of Research on Reproduction and Women's Health of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Fifteen years later, Stuart left to take administrative positions in the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), first as a Scientific Review Officer with the Center for Scientific Review and, 2 years later, as a program officer with the Fertility and Infertility Branch of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). He also worked since 2014 in the NICHD Office of the Director on legislative matters. Stuart's research examined several important aspects of spermatogenic cell differentiation. His work on sperm nuclear structure instilled a long-term interest in the roles of histones in mouse and avian spermatogenesis. He also incorporated techniques of molecular biology to examine gene regulation during spermatogenesis, dissecting the cellular and molecular processes involved in building other sperm structures such as the flagellum. These studies led to the discovery and elucidation of several new proteins involved in anchoring and regulating signaling processes important for sperm motility. His work was some of the first to demonstrate that haploid-expressed proteins encoded by the X-chromosome are components of both the X and Y chromosome-bearing spermatids. In 2002, while on sabbatical as a Visiting Professor in the laboratory of Masaru Okabe (2017 ASA Distinguished Andrologist) in Osaka University, Japan, Stuart expanded his repertoire of techniques to include gene editing and functional fertilization studies using spermatozoa from mice containing experimentally induced mutations. As a laboratory scientist dependent on grant funding, Stuart learned first-hand how important it is to have grant proposals fairly evaluated and to have the feedback from reviews clearly communicated to the applicants. He took this understanding to his positions at NIH, first in the reviewing process and later as a Program Officer responsible for the portfolio of grants dealing with andrology. In this role, he assisted many early-stage investigators navigate the granting process and helped to guide more senior scientists entering the field for the first time. On a personal level, Stuart had a quiet, nonassuming outward demeanor. He came from a small, tight-knit family that included his parents and a younger sister. Although he had no children of his own, he was very close to his niece. He often took her or children of his friends to amusement parks or sporting events. To many, he was an honorary “uncle”. In the field of andrology, we often speak of our colleagues as “family.” At some level, conferences such as the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Andrology are “family reunions”. Stuart was an active participant in the ASA meetings where he annually presented an update of the funding climate at NIH. He also took part in symposia and luncheons for trainees. In conversations with colleagues at these meetings, the questions “Have you met Stuart yet” and “Have you spoken to Stuart about your research idea” were frequently uttered; only his first name needed to be said, we all knew who was meant. The announcements of Stuart's death released an outpouring of emotions of sorrow for his passing and gratitude for everything he had done for his scientific family and the field of andrology. Our hearts go out to all who knew him and, especially, to his companion of 20 years, Pat Pileggi; his mother, Dorothy Moss; his sister, Wendy Moss; his niece, Jordana Haviv; and his grand-nephew Julian Joshua Torres.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor mediates sex ratio distortion in the embryos sired by TCDD-exposed male mice

Reproductive Toxicology · 2020-04-23 · 9 citations

Advancing the cause of improved male reproductive health

Andrology · 2019-09-29 · 1 citations

As the voice of the European Academy of Andrology (EAA) and the American Society of Andrology (ASA), Andrology is proud to publish two manuscripts in this issue that represent a growing swell of support and progress in the cause of increasing awareness, knowledge, and advancements in the improvement of male reproductive health care. There are clear and dangerous deficits in the public awareness and governmental support of male reproductive health care, and Andrology strongly supports the clarion call of De Jonge and Barratt entitled ‘The present Crisis in Male Reproductive Health Care: An Urgent Need for a Political, Social, and Research Roadmap’ (De Jonge and Barratt, 2019). We encourage our readers to consider how they can support this worthy cause. As an important parallel publication, we are pleased to publish a manuscript by Gianfrilli et al. entitled ‘Risk Behaviors and Alcohol in Adolescence are Negatively Associated with Testicular Volume: Results from the Amico-Andrologo Survey’ (Gianfrilli et al., 2019), a success story and unique example of progress in the effort to increase awareness of male reproductive health at an early stage, as well as providing novel data sets for study. These manuscripts are invaluable in defining the issues that confront our field, as well as providing a powerful example of incremental progress. Traditionally, male reproductive health has been viewed as a field mainly dealing with infertility and sexual dysfunction. However, recent data strongly indicate that diminished spermatogenesis is associated with long-term medical health comorbidities, including metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease, highlighting the importance of proper male reproductive health care as a key factor in overall health. Recent societal changes have tended to delay the age at which many men address fertility issues, thus delaying the possible diagnosis of health concerns, as well as potentially increasing the severity of the infertility itself. Furthermore, aging is associated with increased genetic and epigenetic abnormalities that may have important ramifications for the offspring. The rates of testicular cancer, a disease that hits young men, are on the rise in industrialized countries, the cause of which is not currently known. We also cannot explain how health disparities, such as the prevalence of prostate cancer, exist between men from different racial backgrounds. Therefore, it is not only important that male reproductive health receive an increased dose of attention and funding for research, but it is also important that the process of male reproductive health care begins at an early age. Gianfrilli et al. report the first data from the Amico-Andrologo survey, a surveillance program established and conducted under the auspices of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine and the Italian Ministry of Health. This forward-looking program surveys students in their final year of high school and includes a survey that includes relevant demographics, health history, health risk behaviors, sexual activity, and andrological concerns and components. Additionally, the participants can consent to a physical examination including a standard andrological evaluation. While the major association reported in their study is an association between health risk behavior and testicular hypotrophy, it is very powerful to also note that only 11.6% of the adolescents had previously been treated for andrological disorders, even though 34.6% had an abnormal examination in the study. This highlights the need for further education of healthcare practitioners and the public on the importance of including reproductive examination and treatment at an early age. De Jonge and Barratt succinctly convey the current disparity in public awareness, medical evaluation and funding of research of male reproductive health relative to its health and societal relevance. We strongly recommend that their article be carefully considered and that we, as andrologists, expand our efforts to further educate the public on the importance of increased awareness and funding for studies, such as the Amico-Andrologo survey, that will improve male reproductive health care and address the expanding societal problems of continued underfunding and societal neglect.

Methods to Study the Role of Progranulin in Preimplantation Mouse Embryo Development

Methods in molecular biology · 2018-01-01 · 1 citations

Structure of the Spermatozoon

Elsevier eBooks · 2017-12-11 · 1 citations

The 3 Ws of Bayard T. Storey ‐ Wisdom, wine, and wit

Molecular Reproduction and Development · 2017-11-01

Bayard T, Storey (July 13, 1932-June 4, 2017) spent his academic career at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. After training in chemistry (B.S. in Chemistry from Harvard University; M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ph.D. in Chemistry from Harvard University), he spent several years working on ion-exchange resins at Rohm and Haas in Philadelphia. Only in 1965 did he return to academia as a 33-year-old post-doctoral fellow, with Britton Chance at the Eldridge Reeves Johnson Foundation for Medical Physics at the University of Pennsylvania. Bayard's initial interests in the mitochondrial respiratory chain lead to his recognition that sperm, with mitochondria tethered to the flagellum, provided a unique model. Thus began the parts of his career with which we are most familiar: studies of sperm physiology that encompassed bioenergetics, membrane lipid peroxidation, cryopreservation, and interaction with eggs. He brought the approaches he learned at the Johnson Foundation, where he focused on time resolving mitochondrial electron transfer events, to reproductive physiology. Today we routinely use fluorescent probes to follow events in gametes; however in the 1970s, Bayard, along with Henry Lardy (University of Wisconsin), were among the first to develop real-time assays to study fertilization-related events in living sperm. The reproductive biology community recognized Bayard in many ways, including electing him to organize a Gordon Conference on Fertilization and the Activation of Development and honoring him with the Distinguished Andrologist Award from the American Society of Andrology. Those of us who worked with him, were trained by him, or knew him (there were many) also remember his enthusiasm, wit, charm, and how he generously gave his time to help others. Such assistance could be with a particular experimental issue or a spirited and witty debate of controversies in our field or politics, often around a table with wonderful wines. He was particularly concerned with helping young investigators begin and advance their careers and was a strong advocate for the funding and support of reproductive biology. He is sorely missed, and will forever be remembered. Harvey Florman • University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester MA George Gerton • University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia PA Gregory Kopf • fhi360, Durham NC Pablo Visconti • University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA

IFT25, an intraflagellar transporter protein dispensable for ciliogenesis in somatic cells, is essential for sperm flagella formation†

Biology of Reproduction · 2017-04-18 · 64 citations

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is a conserved mechanism essential for the assembly and maintenance of most eukaryotic cilia and flagella. However, IFT25, a component of the IFT complex, is not required for the formation of cilia in somatic tissues. In mice, the gene is highly expressed in the testis, and its expression is upregulated during the final phase when sperm flagella are formed. To investigate the role of IFT25 in sperm flagella formation, the gene was specifically disrupted in male germ cells. All homozygous knockout mice survived to adulthood and did not show any gross abnormalities. However, all homozygous knockout males were completely infertile. Sperm numbers were reduced and these sperm were completely immotile. Multiple morphological abnormalities were observed in sperm, including round heads, short and bent tails, with some tails showing branched flagella and others with frequent abnormal thicknesses, as well as swollen tips of the tail. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that flagellar accessory structures, including the fibrous sheath and outer dense fibers, were disorganized, and most sperm had also lost the "9+2" microtubule structure. In the testis, IFT25 forms a complex with other IFT proteins. In Ift25 knockout testes, IFT27, an IFT25 binding partner, was missing, and IFT20 and IFT81 levels were also reduced. Our findings suggest that IFT25, although not necessary for the formation of cilia in somatic cells, is indispensable for sperm flagellum formation and male fertility in mice.

Progranulin and its biological effects in cancer

Medical Oncology · 2017-11-07 · 109 citations

The Acrosomal Matrix

Advances in anatomy, embryology and cell biology · 2016-01-01 · 20 citations