PTEN signaling through RAF1 proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (RAF1)/ERK in the epididymis is essential for male fertility.

ABSTRACT: Without a fully developed initial segment, the most proximal region of the epididymis, male infertility results. Therefore, it is important to understand the development and regulation of this crucial region. In addition to distinctively high activity levels of the components of the ERK pathway, which are essential for initial-segment differentiation, the initial segment exhibits high protein and activity levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). To understand the role of PTEN in the regulation of the initial segment, we generated a mouse model with a conditional deletion of Pten from the epithelial cells of the proximal epididymis from postnatal day 17 (P17) onward. Shortly after Pten deletion, hypertrophy of the proximal epididymis became evident. Loss of Pten resulted in activati

SUBMITTER: Xu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4284526 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature