| First Author | Narisawa S | Year | 2002 |
| Journal | Mol Cell Biol | Volume | 22 |
| Issue | 15 | Pages | 5554-62 |
| PubMed ID | 12101247 | Mgi Jnum | J:77908 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2182885 | Doi | 10.1128/MCB.22.15.5554-5562.2002 |
| Citation | Narisawa S, et al. (2002) Testis-specific cytochrome c-null mice produce functional sperm but undergo early testicular atrophy. Mol Cell Biol 22(15):5554-62 |
| abstractText | Differentiating male germ cells express a testis-specific form of cytochrome c (Cyt c(T)) that is distinct from the cytochrome c expressed in somatic cells (Cyt c(S)). To examine the role of Cyt c(T) in germ cells, we generated mice null for Cyt c(T). Homozygous Cyt c(T)(-/-) pups were statistically underrepresented (21%) but developed normally and were fertile. However, spermatozoa isolated from the cauda epididymis of Cyt c(T)-null animals were less effective in fertilizing oocytes in vitro and contain reduced levels of ATP compared to wild-type sperm. Sperm from Cyt c(T)-null mice contained a greater number of immotile spermatozoa than did samples from control mice, i.e., 53.1% +/- 13.7% versus 33.2% +/- 10.3% (P < 0.0001) for vas deferens sperm and 40.1% +/- 9.6% versus 33.2% +/- 7.5% (P = 0.0104) for epididymal sperm. Cyt c(T)-null mice often exhibit early atrophy of the testes after 4 months of age, losing germ cells as a result of increased apoptosis. However, no difference in the activation of caspase-3, -8, or -9 was detected between the Cyt c(T)(-/-) testes and controls. Our data indicate that the Cyt c(T)-null testes undergo early atrophy equivalent to that which occurs during aging as a consequence of a reduction in oxidative phosphorylation. |
