Characterization of the fertility of Kit haplodeficient male mice.
The role of the proto-oncogene Kit expression during gonadal development, then in differentiated spermatogonia has been thoroughly established. The present study was designed to investigate the consequences of a partial defect in Kit gene expression on sperm fertilizing ability, using Kit haplodeficient mice (kitW-lacZ/+). Same inbred mice (kit+/+) were used as controls. Epididymal sperm characteristics and in vivo fertility were assessed, then in vitro-fertilization experiments were carried out for mice of both genotypes. Epididymal sperm count was drastically reduced, and sperm motility was also decreased in kitW-lacZ/+ compared with kit+/+ males. Both in vivo or in vitro fertility were greatly reduced in kitW-lacZ/+ compared with kit+/+ males. By contrast, the fertility of kitW-lacZ/+ females was apparently unaffected. Additionally, a higher number of spermatozoa with undetected acrosomal contents was revealed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled Pisum sativum agglutinin acrosomal staining after epididymal sperm retrieval in kitW-lacZ/+ mice, whereas no difference was observed after induction of acrosomal reaction in mice of either genotype. Ultra-structural data confirmed the higher frequency of abnormal acrosome in spermatozoa of kitW-lacZ/+ mice. Thus, sperm production is impaired in Kit haplodeficient mice both on a quantitative and a qualitative basis. Finally, we show that one single copy of Kit gene is not sufficient to maintain genuine fertility in male mice.
Guerif
F
F
Unité Mixte de Recherche 6073, Physiologie de la Reproduction et du Comportement, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique/Centre, National de la Recherche Scientifique/ Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France.
Cadoret
V
V
Plat
M
M
Magistrini
M
M
Lansac
J
J
Hochereau-De Reviers
M T
MT
Royere
D
D
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009929:Organ Size; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit