Loss of CCDC188 causes male infertility with defects in the sperm head-neck connection in mice†.

ABSTRACT: Acephalic spermatozoa syndrome represents a rare genetic and reproductive disease, which is defined as semen composed of mostly headless spermatozoa. The connecting piece in the neck region, also known as the head-to-tail coupling apparatus, plays a crucial role in the tight linkage between the sperm head and tail. Dysfunction of this structure can lead to separation of sperm heads and tails, and male infertility. Using the mouse as an experimental model, several proteins have been identified as associated with the head-to-tail coupling apparatus and disruption of these proteins causes acephalic spermatozoa. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this morphologic anomaly and head-to-tail coupling apparatus remains elusive. In this study, we focused on coiled-coil domain containing 188

SUBMITTER: Qiu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11736427 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature