Objective: To investigate the knockdown of the outer dense fiber protein 2 (ODF2) gene on the sperm motility and fertility of male mice.
Methods: We constructed three knockdown vectors with the target gene ODF2 and one control vector without the target gene. After infecting ICR mice, we determined the vector with the best knockdown effect by RT-PCR and Western blot and reinfected the mice with it. Then we obtained and analyzed the sperm motility parameters, pathological changes of the testis issue, and the litter size of the mice with gene knockdown.
Results: Compared with the normal controls, the mice infected with the vector with the best knockdown effect showed significantly decreased sperm motility parameters, pathomorphological abnormalities of the testis, and a reduced litter size (10.86 ± 1.28 vs 12.72 ± 2.05, P = 0.001).
Conclusion: Decreased expression of the ODF2 gene deceases sperm motility parameters, impairs the morphology of the testis and affects the fertility of male mice.
Keywords: outer dense fiber protein 2; gene knockdown; ICR mouse; sperm motility parameters; infertility.