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Plcz1 Deficiency Decreased Fertility in Male Mice Which Is Associated with Sperm Quality Decline and Abnormal Cytoskeleton in Epididymis

Authors :
Tao Wang
Binbin Cao
Yao Cai
Si Chen
Baozhu Wang
Yan Yuan
Quan Zhang
Source :
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol 24, Iss 1, p 314 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

Phospholipase C zeta1 (Plcz1) was known to be a physiological factor in sperm that activates oocytes to complete meiosis by triggering Ca2+ oscillations after fertilisation. However, the role of male Plcz1 in spermatogenesis and early embryo development in progeny has been controversial. Plcz1 knockout (Plcz1−/−) mouse model (Plcz1m3 and Plcz1m5) was generated by using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. The fertility of Plcz1−/− mice was evaluated by analysing the number of offsprings, sperm quality, pathological changes in the testis and epididymis. RNA-seq and RT-PCR were performed to screen differentially expressed genes and signalling pathways related to fertility in Plcz1−/− mice. Further mechanism was explored by using Plcz1−/− cells. Plcz1 knockout led to hypofertility in male mice. In particular, a significant time delay in development and polyspermy was found in eggs fertilized by both Plcz1m3 and Plcz1m5 sperm. Interestingly, a decline in sperm quality combined with pathological changes in epididymis was found in Plcz1m3 mice but not in Plcz1m5 mice. Notably, abnormal cytoskeleton appears in epididymis of Plcz1m3 mice and Plcz1−/− cells. Cytoskeleton damage of epididymis is involved in fertility decline of males upon Plcz1 deficiency in this model.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14220067 and 16616596
Volume :
24
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.65219760b134204bef486f8753b2a20
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010314