Male infertility has become an increasingly common health concern in recent years. Apart from environmental factors, nutrition, lifestyle, and sexually transmitted diseases, genetic defects are important causes of male infertility. Many genes have been demonstrated to be associated with male infertility. However, the roles of some functional genes in infertility, especially those that are specifically expressed in the reproductive system, remain to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that the testis-specific gene coiled-coil domain-containing 87 (Ccdc87) is critical for male fertility. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses revealed that the Ccdc87 mRNA and protein were only expressed in mouse testis. Ccdc87 expression first appeared at postnatal day 14 and remained at a relatively high level until adulthood. Male mice lacking Ccdc87 gene (Ccdc87-/-) were found to be subfertile. Approximately 20% of Ccdc87-null sperm from the testis and epididymis displayed severe abnormity of acrosome and cell nucleus. Sperm isolated from the cauda epididymides of Ccdc87-/- mice exhibited decreased initial motility but did not show any change in capacitation. Additionally, Ccdc87 disruption led to the impotency of sperm spontaneous and progesterone-induced acrosome reaction. Moreover, in vitro fertilization assays indicated that the fertilizing capacity of Ccdc87-/- sperm was significantly reduced. Taken together, these findings provide a new clue to understand the genetic causes of male infertility.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioy106 | DOI Listing |
Nucleic Acids Res
January 2025
Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
Chromatin remodeling, which involves the histone-to-protamine exchange process during spermiogenesis, is crucial for sperm nuclear condensation and male fertility. However, the key regulators and underlying molecular mechanisms involved in this process remain largely unexplored. In this study, we discovered that deficiency in the family with sequence similarity 170 member A (Fam170a) led to abnormal sperm nuclear morphology and male infertility in mice, mirroring the observation of very low Fam170a transcription levels in sperm of infertile men with teratozoospermia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlant J
January 2025
College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China.
Glutathione reductase (GR) maintains the cellular redox state by reducing oxidized glutathione to glutathione (GSH), which regulates antioxidant defense. Additionally, GR plays an essential role in photosynthesis; however, the mechanism by which GR regulates photosystem II (PSII) is largely unknown. We identified six, three, and three GR genes in Gossypium hirsutum, Gossypium arboreum, and Gossypium raimondii, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Dev Biol
January 2025
Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland.
Male infertility is a multifactorial condition for which the underlying causes frequently remain undefined. Genetic factors have long been associated with male fertility. However, many of them are poorly or not at all characterized and their biological functions are unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Autoimmune regulator (AIRE), a transcription factor expressed by medullary thymic epithelial cells, is required for shaping the self-antigen tolerant T cell receptor repertoire. Humans with mutations in suffer from Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1 (APS-1). Among many symptoms, men with APS-1 commonly experience testicular insufficiency and infertility, but the mechanisms causing infertility are unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRadiol Case Rep
March 2025
Department of Radiology, Makassed hospital, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Zinner syndrome (ZS) is a rare congenital urological condition characterized by a triad of ipsilateral seminal vesicle cysts, unilateral renal agenesis, and ejaculatory duct obstruction, first described in 1914. This case report details the presentation and management of a 27-year-old male diagnosed with ZS following a 2-month history of urinary frequency, hesitancy, dysuria, and painful ejaculation. Physical examination revealed a left lower abdominal mass, and imaging confirmed the classic findings of ZS, including unilateral renal agenesis, an enlarged seminal vesicle cyst, and an ectopic ureter.
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