Scientific article
English

Sertoli cell Dicer is essential for spermatogenesis in mice

Published inDevelopmental biology, vol. 326, no. 1, p. 250-259
Publication date2009
Abstract

Spermatogenesis requires intact, fully competent Sertoli cells. Here, we investigate the functions of Dicer, an RNaseIII endonuclease required for microRNA and small interfering RNA biogenesis, in mouse Sertoli cell function. We show that selective ablation of Dicer in Sertoli cells leads to infertility due to complete absence of spermatozoa and progressive testicular degeneration. The first morphological alterations appear already at postnatal day 5 and correlate with a severe impairment of the prepubertal spermatogenic wave, due to defective Sertoli cell maturation and incapacity to properly support meiosis and spermiogenesis. Importantly, we find several key genes known to be essential for Sertoli cell function to be significantly down-regulated in neonatal testes lacking Dicer in Sertoli cells. Overall, our results reveal novel essential roles played by the Dicer-dependent pathway in mammalian reproductive function, and thus pave the way for new insights into human infertility.

Keywords
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases/physiology
  • Down-Regulation/physiology
  • Endoribonucleases/physiology
  • Infertility, Male/genetics/metabolism
  • Male
  • Meiosis/physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • MicroRNAs/metabolism
  • Sertoli Cells/metabolism
  • Spermatogenesis/physiology
  • Testis/abnormalities/growth & development/metabolism
Citation (ISO format)
PAPAIOANNOU, Maria-Eleni et al. Sertoli cell Dicer is essential for spermatogenesis in mice. In: Developmental biology, 2009, vol. 326, n° 1, p. 250–259. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.11.011
Main files (1)
Article (Accepted version)
accessLevelRestricted
Secondary files (2)
Identifiers
ISSN of the journal1095-564X
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Creation01/04/2009 15:04:00
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