Dkk3/REIC Deficiency Impairs Spermiation, Sperm Fibrous Sheath Integrity and the Sperm Motility of Mice.

ABSTRACT: The role of Dickkopf-3 (Dkk3)/REIC (The Reduced Expression in Immortalized Cells), a Wnt-signaling inhibitor, in male reproductive physiology remains unknown thus far. To explore the functional details of Dkk3/REIC in the male reproductive process, we studied the Dkk3/REIC knock-out (KO) mouse model. By examining testicular sections and investigating the sperm characteristics (count, vitality and motility) and ultrastructure, we compared the reproductive features between Dkk3/REIC-KO and wild-type (WT) male mice. To further explore the underlying molecular mechanism, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of testicular tissues. Our results showed that spermiation failure existed in seminiferous tubules of Dkk3/REIC-KO mice, and sperm from <

SUBMITTER: Xue R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8872165 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature