Human Molecular Genetics Advance Access published online on May 26, 2004
Human Molecular Genetics, doi:10.1093/hmg/ddh161
© 2004 by Oxford University Press
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Institute for Genetic Medicine, Room 240, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 2250 Alcazar Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: sitaredd{at}usc.edu.
Myotonic dystrophy 1 (DM1) is a multi-system disorder characterized by endocrine defects that include testicular and tubular atrophy, oligospermia, leydig cell hyper proliferation and increased FSH levels. DM1 results from a CTG expansion that causes transcriptional silencing of the flanking SIX5 allele. Loss of Six5 results in male sterility and a progressive decrease in testicular mass with age. We demonstrate a strict requirement of Six5 both for spermatogenic cell survival and spermiogenesis. Leydig cell hyper proliferation and increased intra testicular testosterone levels are observed in Six5-/- mice. Although increased FSH levels are observed in Six5+/- and Six5-/- mice, serum testosterone levels and intra testicular inhibin alpha and inhibin beta B levels are not altered in Six5 mutant animals when compared to controls. Significantly, steady state c-Kit levels are reduced in Six5-/- testis. Thus decreased c-Kit levels could contribute to the elevated spermatogenic cell apoptosis and leydig cell hyper proliferation in Six5-/- mice. The results support the hypothesis that reduced SIX5 levels contribute to the male reproductive defects in DM1.
Article
Six5 is required for spermatogenic cell survival and spermiogenesis
![]()
Abstract ![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
S. Mithraprabhu and K. L Loveland Control of KIT signalling in male germ cells: what can we learn from other systems? Reproduction, November 1, 2009; 138(5): 743 - 757. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Cerghet, D. Tapos, F. J. Serajee, and A. H. M. Mahbubul Huq Homozygous Myotonic Dystrophy With Craniosynostosis J Child Neurol, August 1, 2008; 23(8): 930 - 933. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
W. Verpoest, M. De Rademaeker, K. Sermon, M. De Rycke, S. Seneca, E. Papanikolaou, C. Spits, L. Van Landuyt, J. Van der Elst, P. Haentjens, et al. Real and expected delivery rates of patients with myotonic dystrophy undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection and preimplantation genetic diagnosis Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2008; 23(7): 1654 - 1660. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Lessard, H. Lothrop, J.C. Schimenti, and M.A. Handel Mutagenesis-generated mouse models of human infertility with abnormal sperm Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2007; 22(1): 159 - 166. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||


