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In situ architecture of the intercellular organelle reservoir between epididymal epithelial cells by volume electron microscopy

Author

Listed:
  • Xia Li

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Feng Qiao

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Jiansheng Guo

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Ting Jiang

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Huifang Lou

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Huixia Li

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Gangcai Xie

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Hangjun Wu

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Weizhen Wang

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Ruoyu Pei

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Sha Liu

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Mei Ye

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Jin Li

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Shiqin Huang

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Mengya Zhang

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Chaoye Ma

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Yiwen Huang

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Shushu Xu

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Xiaofeng Li

    (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital)

  • Xiao Sun

    (Zhejiang University School of Medicine)

  • Jun Yu

    (Guangzhou Medical University)

  • Kin Lam Fok

    (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

  • Shumin Duan

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Hao Chen

    (Guangzhou Medical University
    Hainan Medical University)

Abstract

Mammalian epididymal epithelial cells are crucial for sperm maturation. Historically, vacuole-like ultrastructures in epididymal epithelial cells were observed via transmission electron microscopy but were undefined. Here, we utilize volume electron microscopy (vEM) to generate 3D reconstructions of epididymal epithelial cells and identify these vacuoles as intercellular organelle reservoirs (IORs) in the lateral intercellular space (LIS), which contains protein aggregates, autophagosomes, lysosome-related organelles and mitochondrial residues. Immunolabelling of organelle markers such as P62, LC3, LAMP1 and TOMM20 confirm these findings. The IOR size or number varies across four epididymal regions and decreases with age. Rab27a mutant mice exhibit reduced IORs in the caput epididymis and a subfertility phenotype, suggesting the involvement of Rab27a in the formation of IORs. Furthermore, we observe the presence of IORs between intestinal epithelial cells besides epididymis. Amino acid transporters at IOR edges suggest dynamic protein recycling. Our findings reveal that the IOR is an important structure critical for organelle turnover and recycling outside epithelial cells with limited self-degradation capabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Xia Li & Feng Qiao & Jiansheng Guo & Ting Jiang & Huifang Lou & Huixia Li & Gangcai Xie & Hangjun Wu & Weizhen Wang & Ruoyu Pei & Sha Liu & Mei Ye & Jin Li & Shiqin Huang & Mengya Zhang & Chaoye Ma & , 2025. "In situ architecture of the intercellular organelle reservoir between epididymal epithelial cells by volume electron microscopy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56807-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56807-9
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