title: Morphologic and functional analysis of sperm and testes in Aquaporin 7 knockout mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the functional and morphologic role of Aquaporin 7 (AQP7) in testis and sperm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University and research institute units.
  
  
  METHODS
  AQP7 knockout mice (C57BL/6J background).
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morphologic analysis of testis and epididymis, daily sperm production, sperm motility, in vitro fertilization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in the morphology of the testes and epididymis between AQP7 knockout and wild-type mice. The AQP7 knockout male mice and wild-type male mice had similar numbers of offspring. Analysis of the daily sperm production and motility of AQP7 knockout mice did not show any abnormalities. Similarly, the rate of in vitro fertilization using sperm from AQP7 knockout mice was not different from wild-type mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Male AQP7 knockout mice were not sterile, and their sperm did not show any morphologic and functional abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Eisei
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sohara
authors.forename: Otoya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tachibe
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hani
authors.forename: Kou-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jishage
authors.forename: Tatemitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: Sei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uchida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020346:Aquaporins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C491927:Aqp7 protein, mouse; D020346:Aquaporins