Analysis of the intratesticular control of spermatogenesis by ex-vivo approaching.

Spermatogenesis involves the realization of a particular genetic program which requires a specific environment ("niche"). Multiplication, differentiation and apoptosis of male germ cells are finely regulated by pituitary hormones (mainly LH and FSH), and by a complex network of factors originating from both the somatic cells and the germ cells of the testis. It is becoming clear that hormones and intra-testicular regulatory factors can compensate, at least in part, for the absence of some hormones or factors including FSH and LH or androgen receptors. Since, most of the growth factors, cytokines and neurotrophins produced within the testis are widely expressed in the organism, the attempts to understand their role in spermatogenesis by "classical" knock-out strategies have been often disappointing. Therefore an important aspect of our previous work was to settle and characterize carefully two systems of cocultures of testicular germ cells with somatic cells in bicameral chambers. For instance, we showed for the first time that the whole meiotic step could be performed in vitro in a mammalian species (the rat). Moreover, all our data indicate that our co-culture systems enable to highlight mechanisms pertinent to the physiological processes. Sperm parameters have been deteriorated considerably during the past 4-5 decades. There is now evidence that chemical exposure is at least partly responsible for these testicular diseases. If a large number of environmental pollutants are able to affect male fertility and to exert carcinogenic effects, their cellular and molecular mechanisms are still unidentified. The cultures in bicameral chambers that we settled can be used to study the effects of a toxicant when added in the basal compartment of the culture chamber, which appears relevant to the in vivo situation. Taken together our results indicate that our in vitro culture systems, which allow screening for the effect of biological activity of different physiological factors, can be also helpful to study that of any chemicals on both survival and multiplication/differentiation of somatic and/or spermatogenic cells on a relatively long time period

Modulation of non-linear optical properties of conjugated photo-active polymers and coordination complexes based on "iminopyridine azobenzene" ligand

Les performances optiques non linéaires (ONL) de ligands pi-conjugués à base d’azobenzène et de fragment coordonnant iminopyridine et leurs complexes métalliques de zinc(II), d’argent(I) et de rhénium(I) ainsi que de polymères méthacryliques contenant l’entité styrylquinoline sont étudiées par des techniques complexes mais fiables à savoir THG, SHG ou encore Z-scan. L'indice de réfraction ONL, le coefficient d'absorption ONL, l’hyper-polarisabilité du second ordre et la section efficace d'absorption ONL pour les complexes métallique de zinc(II) et argent(I) ont été obtenus et analysés. L'estimation du facteur de mérite de ces complexes indique que ce sont des composés prometteurs pour les applications dans des dispositifs optiques. Les paramètres ONL améliorés des complexes contenant du Rhénium(I) par rapport à leurs ligands correspondants, confirment le rôle très important de la coordination par des cations métalliques. Cette étude favorise une meilleure compréhension de la relation structure-propriété avec la prédiction possible des propriétés ONL. Les résultats de l'étude ONL (génération de deuxième et troisième harmonique) de films minces de polymères méthacryliques contenant de la styrylquinoline sont également présentés. Une forte dépendance de la réponse ONL en fonction de la structure des polymères a été mise enévidence, qui est liée au transfert de charge plus ou moins important dans les fragments de styrylquinoline. Une bonne compatibilité a été obtenue entre les résultats théoriques et expérimentaux. Le contraste de la réponse ONL après photo-isomérisation trans-cis de ces polymères, les rend intéressants pour les dispositifs photoniques.The nonlinear optical (NLO) performance of conjugated azo-based iminopyridine complexes with zinc, silver and rhenium metal cations as well as styrylquinoline containing methacrylic polymers are studied by the proven methods of Maker fringe and Z-scan. The NLO refractive index, NLO absorption coefficient, second order hyperpolarizability and NLO absorption cross section for the azo-based iminopyridine zinc(II) and silver(I) complexes were obtained and analysed. The enhanced NLO parameters of the Rhenium(I) containing azo-based iminopyridine complexes as compared to their corresponding ligands confirm the positive role of the metal complexation. This study promotes the better understanding of the structure-property relationship with possible prediction of NLO properties in such metal complexes. The results of the NLO investigation (second and third harmonic generation) of high-quality thin films of styrylquinoline containing methacrylic polymers are presented. Strong dependence of the NLO response upon the structure of the polymers has been found, which is related to a different charge transfer occurring within the styrylquinoline fragments. Good compatibility has been achieved between the theoretical and experimental results. The contrast in NLO response observed after their trans-cis photoisomerization makes them valuable components for photonics device

Modulation des propriétés optiques non linéaires de polymères photoactifs conjugués et de complexes de coordination à base de ligand « iminopyridine azobenzène »

The nonlinear optical (NLO) performance of conjugated azo-based iminopyridine complexes with zinc, silver and rhenium metal cations as well as styrylquinoline containing methacrylic polymers are studied by the proven methods of Maker fringe and Z-scan. The NLO refractive index, NLO absorption coefficient, second order hyperpolarizability and NLO absorption cross section for the azo-based iminopyridine zinc(II) and silver(I) complexes were obtained and analysed. The enhanced NLO parameters of the Rhenium(I) containing azo-based iminopyridine complexes as compared to their corresponding ligands confirm the positive role of the metal complexation. This study promotes the better understanding of the structure-property relationship with possible prediction of NLO properties in such metal complexes. The results of the NLO investigation (second and third harmonic generation) of high-quality thin films of styrylquinoline containing methacrylic polymers are presented. Strong dependence of the NLO response upon the structure of the polymers has been found, which is related to a different charge transfer occurring within the styrylquinoline fragments. Good compatibility has been achieved between the theoretical and experimental results. The contrast in NLO response observed after their trans-cis photoisomerization makes them valuable components for photonics devicesLes performances optiques non linéaires (ONL) de ligands pi-conjugués à base d’azobenzène et de fragment coordonnant iminopyridine et leurs complexes métalliques de zinc(II), d’argent(I) et de rhénium(I) ainsi que de polymères méthacryliques contenant l’entité styrylquinoline sont étudiées par des techniques complexes mais fiables à savoir THG, SHG ou encore Z-scan. L'indice de réfraction ONL, le coefficient d'absorption ONL, l’hyper-polarisabilité du second ordre et la section efficace d'absorption ONL pour les complexes métallique de zinc(II) et argent(I) ont été obtenus et analysés. L'estimation du facteur de mérite de ces complexes indique que ce sont des composés prometteurs pour les applications dans des dispositifs optiques. Les paramètres ONL améliorés des complexes contenant du Rhénium(I) par rapport à leurs ligands correspondants, confirment le rôle très important de la coordination par des cations métalliques. Cette étude favorise une meilleure compréhension de la relation structure-propriété avec la prédiction possible des propriétés ONL. Les résultats de l'étude ONL (génération de deuxième et troisième harmonique) de films minces de polymères méthacryliques contenant de la styrylquinoline sont également présentés. Une forte dépendance de la réponse ONL en fonction de la structure des polymères a été mise enévidence, qui est liée au transfert de charge plus ou moins important dans les fragments de styrylquinoline. Une bonne compatibilité a été obtenue entre les résultats théoriques et expérimentaux. Le contraste de la réponse ONL après photo-isomérisation trans-cis de ces polymères, les rend intéressants pour les dispositifs photoniques

Aging effects in supercooled silica, a molecular dynamics investigation

International audienc

RARE-EARTH DOPED MG-SILICATE NANOPARTICLES IN SILICA FIBER: MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATIONS FROM THE PREFORM TO THE FIBER

International audienceAn enhancement of the spectroscopic performance of rare-earth-doped silica optical fibers is still required for new photonics applications. An interesting route to tailor their optical behavior consists in embedding rare-earth ions within dielectric nanoparticles in the core of optical fibers. Experimentally, such nanoparticles can be produced in situ through spontaneous phase separation phenomenon within a MgO-SiO2 binary melt, during melt/quench sequences of MCVD fabrication process of the preform 1,2. Then, fibers are obtained by drawing at high temperature a preform containing nanoparticles. First report on the drawing process reveals an elongation of the nanoparticles in the drawing direction as well as a breakup of the larger ones 3. In this Molecular dynamics study, we use a new simple transferable model 4 to show that phase separation occurring in the MgO-SiO2 binary melt leads to the separation of liquid phases with mixed composition: Si-rich Mg-poor phases on one hand, Mg-rich Si-poor phases on the other hand. These latter phases, the so-called nanoparticles, are amorphous, non-spherical and exhibit a wide range of sizes. Mg-O coordination and MgO content increase with the nanoparticle size. With rare-earth doping, the larger nanoparticles are over-concentrated in luminescent ions. We show that the rare-earth clustering effect is prevented, compared with a pure silica matrix. Finally, at high temperature, we apply a uniaxial elongation to the nanostructured preform to mimic the experimental drawing step leading to the fiber. We report here on the effects of this drawing process on the nanoparticles characteristics

Analysis of the intratesticular control of spermatogenesis by ex-vivo approaching

International audienceSpermatogenesis involves the realization of a particular genetic program which requires a specific environment ("niche"). Multiplication, differentiation and apoptosis of male germ cells are finely regulated by pituitary hormones (mainly LH and FSH), and by a complex network of factors originating from both the somatic cells and the germ cells of the testis. It is becoming clear that hormones and intra-testicular regulatory factors can compensate, at least in part, for the absence of some hormones or factors including FSH and LH or androgen receptors. Since, most of the growth factors, cytokines and neurotrophins produced within the testis are widely expressed in the organism, the attempts to understand their role in spermatogenesis by "classical" knock-out strategies have been often disappointing. Therefore an important aspect of our previous work was to settle and characterize carefully two systems of cocultures of testicular germ cells with somatic cells in bicameral chambers. For instance, we showed for the first time that the whole meiotic step could be performed in vitro in a mammalian species (the rat). Moreover, all our data indicate that our co-culture systems enable to highlight mechanisms pertinent to the physiological processes. Sperm parameters have been deteriorated considerably during the past 4-5 decades. There is now evidence that chemical exposure is at least partly responsible for these testicular diseases. If a large number of environmental pollutants are able to affect male fertility and to exert carcinogenic effects, their cellular and molecular mechanisms are still unidentified. The cultures in bicameral chambers that we settled can be used to study the effects of a toxicant when added in the basal compartment of the culture chamber, which appears relevant to the in vivo situation. Taken together our results indicate that our in vitro culture systems, which allow screening for the effect of biological activity of different physiological factors, can be also helpful to study that of any chemicals on both survival and multiplication/differentiation of somatic and/or spermatogenic cells on a relatively long time period

Analyse de la spermatogenèse

Un des enjeux de la réglementation européenne REACH est l’amélioration des connaissances des propriétés chimiques, toxiques et écotoxiques des substances utilisées dans la vie courante. Concernant la toxicité testiculaire, nous manquons de modèles pertinents et les rares modèles in vivo utilisés ne sont pas toujours appropriés pour des études mécanistiques. Notre laboratoire a développé des systèmes de culture des cellules germinales mâles, en chambre bicamérale, qui reproduisent une barrière hématotesticulaire et permettent d’étudier le mécanisme d’action des régulateurs physiologiques et les effets d’une substance toxique sur la spermatogenèse, tout en réduisant le nombre d’animaux requis

Molecular dynamics study of rare earth-doped Mg-silicate nanoparticles in vitreous silica: from the preform to the fiber

International audienceA Molecular Dynamics study of rare-earth doped Mg-silicate nanoparticles in vitreous silica: from the preform to the fiber. New lasers and amplifiers still require an enhancement of the spectroscopic performance of rare-earth-doped silica optical fibers. In order to tailor their optical behavior, a route of interest consists in embedding rare-earth ions within dielectric nanoparticles in the core of optical fibers. Nanoparticles are formed through spontaneous phase separation phenomenon within a MgO–SiO2 binary melt, during melt/quench sequences of MCVD fabrication process of the preform [1][2]. Then, fibers are obtained by drawing at high temperature a preform containing nanoparticles. First report on the drawing process reveals an elongation of the nanoparticles in the drawing direction as well as a breakup of the larger ones [3]. In this Molecular dynamics study, we use a new simple transferable model [4] to show that phase separation occurring in the MgO–SiO2 binary melt, leads to separation of liquid phases with mixed composition: Si-rich Mg-poor phases on one hand, Mg-rich Si-poor phases on the other hand. These latter phases, the so-called nanoparticles, are amorphous, non spherical and exhibit a wide range of sizes. Mg-O coordination and MgO content increase with the nanoparticle size. With rare-earth doping, the larger nanoparticles are over-concentrated in luminescent ions. Due to an oxygen-rich environment in the nanoparticles, we show that the rare-earth clustering effect is greatly prevented, compared with a pure silica matrix. Finally, at high temperature, we apply a uniaxial elongation to the nanostructured preform to mimic the experimental drawing step leading to the fiber. We report here results on the effects of this drawing process on the nanoparticles characteristics