Male reproductive phenotype alterations in heterozygous β-globin gene knockout thalassemia (BKO) mice as a model for β-thalassemia patients.

ABSTRACT: Heterozygous β-globin gene knockout thalassemia (BKO) mice derived from C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice have phenotypic of β-thalassemia (BT) and have been widely used for studying this disease except reproductive disorders. The present study determined whether male BKO mice recapitulate reproductive problems as BT men. Mice were randomly assigned into groups depending on the genotype (WT vs. BKO) and intervention (control vs. iron-loaded). Euthanized mice were collected blood, testes, epididymides, hypothalamus, and anterior pituitary for assessing hematological parameters, plasma iron and testosterone levels, testis iron levels, sperm characteristics, and histological alterations. Iron administration caused significant increases of plasma and testis iron levels (p < 0.001) but had no signifi

SUBMITTER: Aiemongkot S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11811285 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature