SPATS1 (spermatogenesis-associated, serine-rich 1) is not essential for spermatogenesis and fertility in mouse

PLoS One. 2021 May 4;16(5):e0251028. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251028. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

SPATS1 (spermatogenesis-associated, serine-rich 1) is an evolutionarily conserved, testis-specific protein that is differentially expressed during rat male meiotic prophase. Some reports have suggested a link between SPATS1 underexpression/mutation and human pathologies such as male infertility and testicular cancer. Given the absence of functional studies, we generated a Spats1 loss-of-function mouse model using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The phenotypic analysis showed no overt phenotype in Spats1-/- mice, with both males and females being fertile. Flow cytometry and histological analyses did not show differences in the testicular content and histology between WT and knockout mice. Moreover, no significant differences in sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, were observed between WT and KO mice. These results were obtained both for young adults and for aged animals. Besides, although an involvement of SPATS1 in the Wnt signaling pathway has been suggested, we did not detect changes in the expression levels of typical Wnt pathway-target genes in mutant individuals. Thus, albeit Spats1 alteration might be a risk factor for male testicular health, we hereby show that this gene is not individually essential for male fertility and spermatogenesis in mouse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Fertility / physiology*
  • Infertility, Male / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Meiosis / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / metabolism
  • Serine / metabolism
  • Sperm Count / methods
  • Sperm Motility / physiology
  • Spermatogenesis / physiology*
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism
  • Testicular Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Testis / metabolism

Substances

  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Serine

Supplementary concepts

  • Testicular Germ Cell Tumor

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Comisión Sectorial de Investigación Científica (CSIC), UDELAR, Uruguay (https://www.csic.edu.uy/), under an I+D Groups 2018 grant to AG and RB. CAC was awarded with a PhD scholarship from Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación (ANII), Uruguay (https://www.anii.org.uy/). Experiments carried out at UATE, IPMontevideo, were supported by FOCEM (MERCOSUR Structural Convergence Fund; https://focem.mercosur.int/es/), COF 03/11. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.