Intraflagellar transport protein 74 is essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility in mice†.

ABSTRACT: Intraflagellar transport protein 74 (IFT74) is a component of the core intraflagellar transport complex, a bidirectional movement of large particles along the axoneme microtubules for cilia formation. In this study, we investigated its role in sperm flagella formation and discovered that mice deficiency in Ift74 gene in male germ cells were infertile with low sperm count and immotile sperm. The few developed spermatozoa displayed misshaped heads and short tails. Transmission electron microscopy revealed abnormal flagellar axonemes in the seminiferous tubules where sperm are made. Clusters of unassembled microtubules were present in the spermatids. Testicular expression levels of IFT27, IFT57, IFT81, IFT88, and IFT140 proteins were significantly reduced in the conditional Ift74 mutant mice,

SUBMITTER: Shi L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6614581 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature