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Mfsd14a (Hiat1) gene disruption causes globozoospermia and infertility in male mice.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Type

Article

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Authors

Doran, Joanne 
Walters, Cara 
Kyle, Victoria 
Hammett-Burke, Rebecca 

Abstract

The Mfsd14a gene, previously called Hiat1, encodes a transmembrane protein of unknown function with homology to the solute carrier protein family. To study the function of the MFSD14A protein, mutant mice (Mus musculus, strain 129S6Sv/Ev) were generated with the Mfsd14a gene disrupted with a LacZ reporter gene. Homozygous mutant mice are viable and healthy, but males are sterile due to a 100-fold reduction in the number of spermatozoa in the vas deferens. Male mice have adequate levels of testosterone and show normal copulatory behaviour. The few spermatozoa that are formed show rounded head defects similar to those found in humans with globozoospermia. Spermatogenesis proceeds normally up to the round spermatid stage, but the subsequent structural changes associated with spermiogenesis are severely disrupted with failure of acrosome formation, sperm head condensation and mitochondrial localization to the mid-piece of the sperm. Staining for β-galactosidase activity as a surrogate for Mfsd14a expression indicates expression in Sertoli cells, suggesting that MFSD14A may transport a solute from the bloodstream that is required for spermiogenesis.

Description

Keywords

Animals, Cells, Cultured, Female, Infertility, Male, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Mutant Strains, Monosaccharide Transport Proteins, Sertoli Cells, Spermatogenesis, Spermatozoa, Teratozoospermia

Journal Title

Reproduction

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1470-1626
1741-7899

Volume Title

Publisher

Bioscientifica
Sponsorship
This work was funded by a Ford Physiology Fund Endowment (WHC).