The mouse homolog of Drosophila Vasa is required for the development of male germ cells.
Restricted expression of a mouse Vasa homolog gene (Mvh) expression is first detected in primordial germ cells (PGCs) after colonization of the genital ridges. Subsequently, Mvh is maintained until postmeiotic germ cells are formed. Here, we demonstrate that male mice homozygous for a targeted mutation of Mvh exhibit a reproductive deficiency. Male homozygotes produce no sperm in the testes, where premeiotic germ cells cease differentiation by the zygotene stage and undergo apoptotic death. In addition, the proliferation of PGCs that colonize homozygous male gonads is significantly hampered, and OCT-3/4 expression appears to be reduced. These results indicate that the loss of Mvh function causes a deficiency in the proliferation and differentiation of mouse male germ cells.
Tanaka
S S
SS
Mitsubishi-Kasei Institute of Life Sciences, Tokyo 194-8511, Japan.
Toyooka
Y
Y
Akasu
R
R
Katoh-Fukui
Y
Y
Nakahara
Y
Y
Suzuki
R
R
Yokoyama
M
M
Noce
T
T
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C090864:Ddx4 protein, mouse; C088269:vas protein, Drosophila; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D020365:RNA Helicases