E4 Transcription Factor 1 (E4F1) Regulates Sertoli Cell Proliferation and Fertility in Mice
In the mammalian testes, Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells in the seminiferous tubules that provide structural, nutritional and regulatory support for developing spermatogenic cells. Sertoli cells only proliferate during the fetal and neonatal periods and enter a quiescent state after puberty...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-09-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1691 |
| _version_ | 1827705958533431296 |
|---|---|
| author | Rong-Ge Yan Qi-Lin Yang Qi-En Yang |
| author_facet | Rong-Ge Yan Qi-Lin Yang Qi-En Yang |
| author_sort | Rong-Ge Yan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the mammalian testes, Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells in the seminiferous tubules that provide structural, nutritional and regulatory support for developing spermatogenic cells. Sertoli cells only proliferate during the fetal and neonatal periods and enter a quiescent state after puberty. Functional evidences suggest that the size of Sertoli cell population determines sperm production and fertility. However, factors that direct Sertoli cell proliferation and maturation are not fully understood. Transcription factor E4F1 is a multifunctional protein that serves essential roles in cell fate decisions and because it interacts with pRB, a master regulator of Sertoli cell function, we hypothesized that E4F1 may have a functional role in Sertoli cells. <i>E4f1</i> mRNA was present in murine testis and immunohistochemical staining confirmed that E4F1 was enriched in mature Sertoli cells. We generated a conditional knockout mouse model using <i>Amh-cre</i> and <i>E4f1<sup>flox/flox</sup></i> lines to study E4F1 fucntion in Sertoli cells and the results showed that <i>E4f1</i> deletion caused a significant reduction in testis size and fertility. Further analyses revealed that meiosis progression and spermiogenesis were normal, however, Sertoli cell proliferation was impaired and germ cell apoptosis was elevated in the testis of <i>E4f1</i> conditional knockout mice. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that E4F1 was expressed in murine Sertoli cells and served important functions in regulating Sertoli cell proliferation and fertility. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:13:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ae99f059886046c082065d2ac2cd8c79 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:13:50Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-ae99f059886046c082065d2ac2cd8c792023-11-20T14:17:11ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-09-01109169110.3390/ani10091691E4 Transcription Factor 1 (E4F1) Regulates Sertoli Cell Proliferation and Fertility in MiceRong-Ge Yan0Qi-Lin Yang1Qi-En Yang2Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810000, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, Qinghai Vocational Technical College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Xining 810016, ChinaKey Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810000, ChinaIn the mammalian testes, Sertoli cells are the only somatic cells in the seminiferous tubules that provide structural, nutritional and regulatory support for developing spermatogenic cells. Sertoli cells only proliferate during the fetal and neonatal periods and enter a quiescent state after puberty. Functional evidences suggest that the size of Sertoli cell population determines sperm production and fertility. However, factors that direct Sertoli cell proliferation and maturation are not fully understood. Transcription factor E4F1 is a multifunctional protein that serves essential roles in cell fate decisions and because it interacts with pRB, a master regulator of Sertoli cell function, we hypothesized that E4F1 may have a functional role in Sertoli cells. <i>E4f1</i> mRNA was present in murine testis and immunohistochemical staining confirmed that E4F1 was enriched in mature Sertoli cells. We generated a conditional knockout mouse model using <i>Amh-cre</i> and <i>E4f1<sup>flox/flox</sup></i> lines to study E4F1 fucntion in Sertoli cells and the results showed that <i>E4f1</i> deletion caused a significant reduction in testis size and fertility. Further analyses revealed that meiosis progression and spermiogenesis were normal, however, Sertoli cell proliferation was impaired and germ cell apoptosis was elevated in the testis of <i>E4f1</i> conditional knockout mice. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that E4F1 was expressed in murine Sertoli cells and served important functions in regulating Sertoli cell proliferation and fertility.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1691E4F1sertoli cellsspermatogenesisproliferationfertility |
| spellingShingle | Rong-Ge Yan Qi-Lin Yang Qi-En Yang E4 Transcription Factor 1 (E4F1) Regulates Sertoli Cell Proliferation and Fertility in Mice Animals E4F1 sertoli cells spermatogenesis proliferation fertility |
| title | E4 Transcription Factor 1 (E4F1) Regulates Sertoli Cell Proliferation and Fertility in Mice |
| title_full | E4 Transcription Factor 1 (E4F1) Regulates Sertoli Cell Proliferation and Fertility in Mice |
| title_fullStr | E4 Transcription Factor 1 (E4F1) Regulates Sertoli Cell Proliferation and Fertility in Mice |
| title_full_unstemmed | E4 Transcription Factor 1 (E4F1) Regulates Sertoli Cell Proliferation and Fertility in Mice |
| title_short | E4 Transcription Factor 1 (E4F1) Regulates Sertoli Cell Proliferation and Fertility in Mice |
| title_sort | e4 transcription factor 1 e4f1 regulates sertoli cell proliferation and fertility in mice |
| topic | E4F1 sertoli cells spermatogenesis proliferation fertility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1691 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ronggeyan e4transcriptionfactor1e4f1regulatessertolicellproliferationandfertilityinmice AT qilinyang e4transcriptionfactor1e4f1regulatessertolicellproliferationandfertilityinmice AT qienyang e4transcriptionfactor1e4f1regulatessertolicellproliferationandfertilityinmice |