缺乏ADAM7的小鼠生育力降低以及附睾和精子完整性改变。

Reduced Fertility and Altered Epididymal and Sperm Integrity in Mice Lacking ADAM7.

作者信息

Choi Heejin, Han Cecil, Jin Sora, Kwon Jun Tae, Kim Jihye, Jeong Juri, Kim Jaehwan, Ham Sera, Jeon Suyeon, Yoo Yung Joon, Cho Chunghee

机构信息

School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea.

School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

出版信息

Biol Reprod. 2015 Sep;93(3):70. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.115.130252. Epub 2015 Aug 5.

Abstract

The mammalian epididymis is a highly convoluted tubule that connects the testis to the vas deferens. Its proper functions in sperm transport, storage, and maturation are essential for male reproduction. One of the genes predominantly expressed in the epididymis is ADAM7 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease 7). Previous studies have shown that ADAM7 synthesized in the epididymis is secreted into the epididymal lumen and is then transferred to sperm membranes, where it forms a chaperone complex that is potentially involved in sperm fertility. In this study, we generated and analyzed mice with a targeted disruption in the Adam7 gene. We found that the fertility of male mice was modestly but significantly reduced by knockout of Adam7. Histological analyses revealed that the cell heights of the epithelium were dramatically decreased in the caput of the epididymis of Adam7-null mice, suggesting a requirement for ADAM7 in maintaining the integrity of the epididymal epithelium. We found that sperm from Adam7-null mice exhibit decreased motility, tail deformation, and altered tyrosine phosphorylation, indicating that the absence of ADAM7 leads to abnormal sperm functions and morphology. Western blot analyses revealed reduced levels of integral membrane protein 2B (ITM2B) and ADAM2 in sperm from Adam7-null mice, suggesting a requirement for ADAM7 in normal expression of sperm membrane proteins involved in sperm functions. Collectively, our study demonstrates for the first time that ADAM7 is required for normal fertility and is important for the maintenance of epididymal integrity and for sperm morphology, motility, and membrane proteins.

摘要

哺乳动物的附睾是一条高度盘绕的小管,它将睾丸与输精管相连。其在精子运输、储存和成熟过程中的正常功能对雄性生殖至关重要。在附睾中主要表达的基因之一是ADAM7(一种去整合素和金属蛋白酶7)。先前的研究表明,在附睾中合成的ADAM7被分泌到附睾管腔中,然后转移到精子膜上,在那里它形成一个伴侣蛋白复合体,可能参与精子的生育能力。在本研究中,我们构建并分析了Adam7基因靶向缺失的小鼠。我们发现,敲除Adam7后,雄性小鼠的生育能力虽有适度但显著的降低。组织学分析显示,Adam7基因缺失小鼠附睾头部上皮细胞高度显著降低,这表明ADAM7对维持附睾上皮的完整性是必需的。我们发现,Adam7基因缺失小鼠的精子表现出活力下降、尾部变形和酪氨酸磷酸化改变,这表明ADAM7的缺失导致精子功能和形态异常。蛋白质免疫印迹分析显示,Adam7基因缺失小鼠精子中整合膜蛋白2B(ITM2B)和ADAM2的水平降低,这表明ADAM7对参与精子功能的精子膜蛋白的正常表达是必需的。总的来说,我们的研究首次证明ADAM7对正常生育能力是必需的,并且对维持附睾完整性以及精子形态、活力和膜蛋白很重要。

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