Increased DNA strand breaks in spermatozoa of knockout mice.

Context: The Pxt1 gene encodes a male germ cell-specific protein and its overexpression results in male germ cell degeneration and male infertility in transgenic mice.

Aims: The analysis of the function of Pxt1 during mouse spermatogenesis.

Methods: The phenotype of Pxt1 knockout mice was characterised by testicular histology, assessment of semen parameters including sperm motility, and DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry.