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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology
Critical function of RA-GEF-2/Rapgef6, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rap1, in mouse spermatogenesis
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Volume 445, No. 1, Year 2014
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Description
Small GTPase Rap1 has been implicated in the proper differentiation of testicular germ cells. In the present study, we investigated the functional significance of RA-GEF-2/Rapgef6, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rap1, in testicular differentiation using mice lacking RA-GEF-2. RA-GEF-2 was expressed predominantly on the luminal side of the seminiferous tubules in wild-type mice. No significant differences were observed in the body weights or hormonal parameters of RA-GEF-2-/- and wild-type mice. However, the testes of RA-GEF-2-/- male mice were significantly smaller than those of wild-type mice and were markedly atrophied as well as hypospermatogenic. The concentration and motility of epididymal sperm were also markedly reduced and frequently had an abnormal shape. The pregnancy rate and number of fetuses were markedly lower in wild-type females after they mated with RA-GEF-2-/- males than with wild-type males, which demonstrated the male infertility phenotype of RA-GEF-2-/- mice. Furthermore, a significant reduction and alteration were observed in the expression level and cell junctional localization of N-cadherin, respectively, in RA-GEF-2-/- testes, which may, at least in part, account for the defects in testicular differentiation and spermatogenesis in these mice. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Okada, Keisuke
Japan, Kobe
Graduate School of Medicine
Miyake, Hideaki
Japan, Kobe
Graduate School of Medicine
Yamaguchi, Kohei
Japan, Kobe
Graduate School of Medicine
Chiba, Koji
Japan, Kobe
Graduate School of Medicine
Maeta, Kazuhiro
Japan, Kobe
Graduate School of Medicine
Bilasy, Shymaa El Shawadfy
Egypt, Ismailia
Faculty of Pharmacy
Edamatsu, Hironori
Japan, Kobe
Graduate School of Medicine
Kataoka, Tohru
Japan, Kobe
Graduate School of Medicine
Fujisawa, Masato
Japan, Kobe
Graduate School of Medicine
Statistics
Citations: 12
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.01.149
ISSN:
0006291X
e-ISSN:
10902104
Research Areas
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Participants Gender
Male
Female