title: Rex1 (Zfp42) null mice show impaired testicular function, abnormal testis morphology, and aberrant gene expression.
abstract: Rex1 (Zfp42), GeneID 132625, is a gene whose expression is closely associated with pluripotency/multipotency in both mouse and human embryonic stem cells. To study the function of the murine Rex1 gene in vivo, we have used cre/lox technology to create Rex1(floxed) mice and mice deficient in Rex1 gene function. Rex1(-/-)males are characterized by an age-associated decrease in sperm counts, abnormal sperm morphology, and mild testicular atrophy. We characterized global patterns of gene expression in primary germ cells by microarray and identified the growth hormone responsive gene, GRTP1, as a transcript present at a 4.5 fold higher level in wild type (WT) compared to Rex1(-/-) mice. We analyzed immature germ cell (Dazl), proliferating (PCNA), and Sertoli cell populations, and quantitated levels of apoptosis in Rex1(-/-) as compared to WT testes. We evaluated the expression of proteins previously reported to correlate with Rex1 expression, such as STAT3, phospho-STAT3, p38, and phospho-p38 in the testis. We report a distinct cellular localization of total STAT3 protein in Rex1(-/-) affected testes. Our data suggest that loss of Rex1 leads to impaired testicular function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Naira C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Rezende
authors.forename: Mi-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monette
authors.forename: Willie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: Ailan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Lorraine J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Gudas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002453:Cell Cycle; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013737:Testis / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C513672:Zfp42 protein, mouse; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases