title: Normal sexual development and fertility in testatin knockout mice.
abstract: The testatin gene was previously isolated in a screen focused on finding novel signaling molecules involved in sex determination and differentiation. testatin is specifically upregulated in pre-Sertoli cells in early fetal development, immediately after the onset of Sry expression, and was therefore considered a strong candidate for involvement in early testis development. testatin expression is maintained in the adult Sertoli cell, and it can also be found in a small population of germ cells. Testatin shows homology to family 2 cystatins, a group of broadly expressed small secretory proteins that are inhibitors of cysteine proteases in vitro but whose in vivo functions are unclear. testatin belongs to a novel subfamily among the cystatins, comprising genes that all show expression patterns that are strikingly restricted to reproductive tissue. To investigate a possible role of testatin in testis development and male reproduction, we have generated a mouse with targeted disruption of the testatin gene. We found no abnormalities in the testatin knockout mice with regard to fetal and adult testis morphology, cellular ultrastructure, body and testis weight, number of offspring, spermatogenesis, or hormonal parameters (testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone).
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet/Karolinska University Hospital, CMM:02, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Virpi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Töhönen
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frygelius
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadieh
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kvist
authors.forename: Lauri J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Pelliniemi
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nordqvist
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wedell
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015891:Cystatins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D018390:Gene Targeting; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D046468:Sexual Development / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C116163:Cst9 protein, mouse; D015891:Cystatins; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone