| First Author | Ali H | Year | 2022 |
| Journal | Mol Biol Rep | Volume | 49 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 6261-6268 |
| PubMed ID | 35449315 | Mgi Jnum | J:345144 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7579589 | Doi | 10.1007/s11033-022-07429-7 |
| Citation | Ali H, et al. (2022) Testis-specific fascin component FSCN3 is dispensable for mouse spermatogenesis and fertility. Mol Biol Rep 49(7):6261-6268 |
| abstractText | BACKGROUND: Fascins belong to a family of actin-bundling proteins that are involved in a wide range of biological functions. FSCN3, a newly identified testis-specific actin-bundling protein, is specifically expressed in elongated spermatids. However, its in vivo function in mouse spermiogenesis remains unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We generated Fscn3 knockout mice through CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology. Fscn3(-/-) mice displayed normal testis morphology and testis to bodyweight ratio, and sperm concentrations did not differ significantly between Fscn3(+/+) and Fscn3(-/-) mice. Fertility assays consistently revealed that Fscn3(-/-) mice are completely fertile and their reproductive status does not differ from that of wild-type. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin staining of the testis sections of Fscn3(-/-) mice detected various germ cells, ranging from spermatogonia to mature spermatozoa. Furthermore, the swimming velocity of the sperm of Fscn3(-/-) mice was comparable to that of their wild-type littermates. Both Fscn3(+/+) and Fscn3(-/-)mice had normal sperm morphology, indicating that the disruption of Fscn3 does not affect sperm morphology. The analysis of meiotic prophase I progression demonstrated normal prophase-I phases (leptonema to diplonema) in both Fscn3(+/+) and Fscn3(-/-) mice, suggesting that Fscn3 is not essential for meiosis I. CONCLUSION: Our study provides the first evidence that FSCN3 is a testis-specific actin-bundling protein that is not required for mouse spermatogenesis. Our results will help reproductive biologists focus their efforts on genes that are crucial for fertility and avoid research duplication. |
