The biological significance of phospholipase C beta 1 gene mutation in mouse sperm in the acrosome reaction, fertilization, and embryo development.
OBJECTIVE
We carried out this study to evaluate the biological significance of phospholipase C beta 1 gene mutation in mouse sperm in the acrosome reaction, fertilization, and embryo development.


METHODS
Study subjects were divided into two groups according to the sperm [intact phospholipase C (PLC) beta 1 and PLC beta 1-/- C57BL/6J x CBA F1 mouse sperm] used. The positive acrosome reaction rate labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate-Pisum sativum agglutinin, the fertilization rate, and the rate of embryos developed to the stage of morula or blastocyst in the two groups were compared.


RESULTS
The mouse sperm null for the PLC beta 1 gene showed a lower acrosome reaction rate than control sperm (69.2 vs 50.9%, P < 0.05). And the fertilization rate and the rate of embryos developed to the stage of morula or blastocyst were also lower in the group using PLC beta 1-/- mouse sperm compared to the intact group (P < 0.05; 73.5 vs 51.8% and 15.7 vs 4.3%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Mutation of the PLC beta 1 gene in the mouse sperm reduces the acrosome reaction rate, fertilization rate, and embryo development rate, which may be the etiologic factors responsible for the low reproductive rate of PLC beta 1-/- mouse.
Choi
D
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, IVF Clinic, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
E
E
Hwang
S
S
Jun
K
K
Kim
D
D
Yoon
B K
BK
Shin
H S
HS
Lee
J H
JH
D020101:Acrosome Reaction; D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009154:Mutation; D054799:Phospholipase C beta; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000235:genetics*
D007527:Isoenzymes; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D054799:Phospholipase C beta; C518034:Plcb1 protein, mouse