Apoptosis of Sertoli cells after conditional ablation of murine double minute 2 (Mdm2) gene is p53-dependent and results in male sterility.

ABSTRACT: Beside its well-documented role in carcinogenesis, the function of p53 family has been more recently revealed in development and female reproduction, but it is still poorly documented in male reproduction. We specifically tested this possibility by ablating Mdm2, an E3 ligase that regulates p53 protein stability and transactivation function, specifically in Sertoli cells (SCs) using the AMH-Cre line and created the new SC-Mdm2(-/-) line. Heterozygous SC-Mdm2(-/+) adult males were fertile, but SC-Mdm2(-/-) males were infertile and exhibited: a shorter ano-genital distance, an extra duct along the vas deferens that presents a uterus-like morphology, degenerated testes with no organized seminiferous tubules and a complete loss of differentiated germ cells. In adults, testosterone levels as we

SUBMITTER: Fouchecourt S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5072445 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature