Regulation of proliferation and meiosis in male germ cells of the testis

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06439
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42030:Animal life science-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University (2021); Osaka University (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: Endo Tsutomu 東京医科歯科大学, 統合研究機構, 助教 (40813936)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 精巣 / 精子形成 / 加齢

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Within the testis, spermatogonia, which include germline stem cells, undergo an elaborately organized process to give rise to sperm. The process of germ cell development is called spermatogenesis. Transition of spermatogonia to spermatocytes must be carefully regulated to ensure that large numbers of spermatozoa are produced continuously throughout reproductive life. I have addressed the question of how this transition is regulated at the cellular and molecular level. We have generated three of knockout (KO) mouse lines by CRISPR/Cas9 system and have found that one KO mice are age-dependently infertile. The KO mice show precocious testicular defects, which can be observed in natural aged mice.

Free Research Field

生殖生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本成果は、精原細胞の増殖と分化の調節や、精子形成の継続性と加齢による破綻現象の一端を明らかにしており、畜産・動物生命科学への学術的な波及に寄与する。また現在、畜産動物の精原細胞を体外移植して精子を作製する技術が開発されている。本知見は、移植後の精子形成の効率改善に応用でき、この技術を活かして効率的な動物生産への展開が期待される。
さらに、ヒトの不妊は社会的要求の高いテーマであり、国内の不妊カップルは 約７組に１組と推定される。不妊症の約半数は男性側に起因し、主な原因として精子形成の障害が知られる。本成果は、加齢による男性の妊性低下の原因究明や治療法開発に繋がり、社会への還元が期待できる。