Adenovirus-mediated gene delivery and in vitro microinsemination produce offspring from infertile male mice.
Sertoli cells play a pivotal role in spermatogenesis through their interactions with germ cells. To set up a strategy for treating male infertility caused by Sertoli cell dysfunction, we developed a Sertoli cell gene transfer system by using an adenovirus vector, which maintained long-term transgene expression in the testes of infertile mice. Introduction of an adenovirus carrying the mouse Steel (Sl) gene into Sertoli cells restored partial spermatogenesis in infertile Steel/Steel(dickie) (Sl/Sl(d)) mutant mouse testes. Although these males remained infertile, round spermatids and spermatozoa from the testes produced normal fertile offspring after intracytoplasmic injection into oocytes. None of the offspring showed evidence of germ line transmission of adenoviral DNA. Thus, we demonstrate a successful treatment for infertility by using a gene therapy vector. Therefore, adenovirus-mediated gene delivery into Sertoli cells not only provides an efficient and convenient means for studying germ cell-Sertoli cell interactions through manipulation of the germ cell microenvironment in vivo, but also is a useful method to treat male infertility resulting from a Sertoli cell defect.
Kanatsu-Shinohara
Mito
M
Department of Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
Ogura
Atsuo
A
Ikegawa
Masaya
M
Inoue
Kimiko
K
Ogonuki
Narumi
N
Tashiro
Kei
K
Toyokuni
Shinya
S
Honjo
Tasuku
T
Shinohara
Takashi
T
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics*; D007314:Insemination / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008845:Microinjections; D013087:Spermatids / Q000166:cytology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
D002843:Chromatin; D001616:beta-Galactosidase