GGA1 participates in spermatogenesis in mice under stress

PeerJ

article

Haoyun Jiao¹  Yinghong Chen²  Tingting Han¹  Qiyu Pan¹  Fei Gao²  Guoping Li¹ 

[1] The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission;State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences;University of Chinese Academy of Sciences;Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University;Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine;Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences

关键词: Gga1;    BPA;    Sperm count;    Sperm morphology;    Spermatogenesis;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.15673

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundInfertility is recognized as a common and worrisome problem of human reproduction worldwide. Based on previous studies, male factors account for about half of all infertility cases. Exposure to environmental toxicants is an important contributor to male infertility. Bisphenol A (BPA) is the most prominent toxic environmental contaminant worldwide affecting the male reproductive system. BPA can impair the function of the Golgi apparatus which is important in spermatogenesis. GGA1 is known as Golgi-localized, gamma adaptin ear-containing, ARF-binding protein 1. Previously, it has been shown that GGA1 is associated with spermatogenesis in Drosophila, however, its function in mammalian spermatogenesis remains unclear.MethodsGga1 knockout mice were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Gga1-/- male mice and wild-type littermates received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of BPA (40 µg/kg) once daily for 2 weeks. Histological and immunofluorescence staining were performed to analyze the phenotypes of these mice.ResultsMale mice lacking Gga1 had normal fertility without any obvious defects in spermatogenesis, sperm count and sperm morphology. Gga1 ablation led to infertility in male mice exposed to BPA, along with a significant reduction in sperm count, sperm motility and the percentage of normal sperm. Histological analysis of the seminiferous epithelium showed that spermatogenesis was severely disorganized, while apoptotic germ cells were significantly increased in the Gga1 null mice exposed to BPA. Our findings suggest that Gga1 protects spermatogenesis against damage induced by environmental pollutants.

【 授权许可】

CC BY