Mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (Mtor) is required for spermatogonial proliferation and differentiation in mice.

ABSTRACT: Spermatogonial development is a vital prerequisite for spermatogenesis and male fertility. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the behavior of spermatogonia, including spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) self-renewal and spermatogonial proliferation and differentiation, are not fully understood. Recent studies demonstrated that the mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in spermatogonial development, but whether MTOR itself was also involved in any specific process of spermatogonial development remained undetermined. In this study, we specifically deleted Mtor in male germ cells of mice using Stra8-Cre and assessed its effect on the function of spermatogonia. The Mtor knockout (KO) mice exhibited an age-dependent perturbation of testicular development and progressiv

SUBMITTER: Cao J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7155804 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature