EGFR ligands exert diverging effects on male reproductive organs.
While the EGFR and most of its ligands are expressed in the male reproductive tract, their functions in male reproduction are poorly understood. Interestingly, male transgenic mice overexpressing EGF are sterile, and transgenic mice overexpressing TGFA, another EGFR ligand, show an enlarged coagulation gland (anterior prostate) due to severe hyperplasia with focal dysplasia. We studied the male reproductive tract of transgenic mice overexpressing betacellulin (BTC-tg) under the control of a promoter conferring widespread transgene expression. Despite strong overexpression of BTC in different parts of the male reproductive tract, the gross appearance and histology of the reproductive organs of BTC-tg males were normal and the same were true for sperm parameters and the in vitro fertilization rate. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that excess of BTC exerts no deleterious effects on the structure or function of the male reproductive tract in mice and indicates unique, non-overlapping functions of specific EGFR ligands in male reproduction.
Schneider
Marlon R
MR
Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, LMU Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 25, 81377 Munich, Germany. schnder@lmb.uni-muenchen.de
Gratao
Ana A
AA
Dahlhoff
Maik
M
Boersma
Auke
A
Hrabé de Angelis
Martin
M
Hoang-Vu
Cuong
C
Wolf
Eckhard
E
Klonisch
Thomas
T
D000818:Animals; D066259:Betacellulin; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009929:Organ Size / Q000235:genetics; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D066259:Betacellulin; C587852:Btc protein, mouse; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; C541485:EGFR protein, mouse; D066246:ErbB Receptors