title: Cyclin A1 protein shows haplo-insufficiency for normal fertility in male mice.
abstract: In higher eukaryotes, the cyclins constitute a family of proteins involved in progression through the cell cycle. The cyclin A1 gene (Ccna1) is expressed during meiosis and is required for spermatogenesis. Targeted disruption of the Ccna1 gene with a LacZ reporter gene has allowed us to study the expression pattern of this gene in more detail. We have confirmed expression in mouse pre-meiotic spermatocytes and also detected expression in the accessory olfactory bulb, hippocampus and amygdala of the adult brain. We have also found that the amount of cyclin A1 protein influences the fertility of male mice and its action is modulated by genetic background. On an outbred genetic background (129S6/SvEv x MF1), Ccna1 (tm1Col) -/- animals are sterile due to spermatogenic arrest prior to the first meiotic division while Ccna1 (tm1Col) +/- mice show reduced sperm production and fertility. This is even more pronounced on an inbred genetic background (129S6/SvEv) where Ccna1 (tm1Col) +/- male mice are sterile due to a severe reduction in the total number of sperm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: W-Y Iris
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Luis S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Palazon
authors.forename: Conrad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nieduszynski
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Joelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sobczak-Thépot
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrington
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Colledge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D019925:Cyclin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D056750:Cyclin A1; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D006238:Haploidy; D006720:Homozygote; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000235:genetics; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000737:chemistry; D013076:Sperm Count; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: C503747:Ccna1 protein, mouse; D019925:Cyclin A; D056750:Cyclin A1