Analysis Tools
reproductive system
| N |
• mutant males show normal postnatal testis weights, with no significant differences in the ratio of testis weight to body weight or in Sertoli cell proliferation relative to control littermates
• notably, adult mutant males are fertile and yield litters of normal size and frequency relative to controls, despite reduced serum testosterone levels
|
 |
• at P18, mutant tubules exhibit a disorganized germinal epithelium with numerous vacuoles and no lumen
• however, no differences with regard to vacuolization of the cytoplasm or (dis-) organization of the germinal epithelium are noted in adult mutant tubules relative to controls, indicating that the phenotype observed at P18 is transient
• moreover, no significant differences are observed between the % of TUNEL-positive mutant tubules vs control tubules
|
|
|
• whereas at P18 mutant tubules display a slightly, yet significantly increased diameter, at P20 mutant tubules exhibit a significantly reduced average diameter relative to control tubules
|
|
|
• at P20, only 50% of mutant tubules display a lumen vs 87% of control tubules
• at P18, mutant Sertoli cells display a developmental delay in lumen formation with only 32% of mutant tubules exhibiting a lumen vs 75% of control tubules
|
|
|
• gene expression profiling revealed differential expression of genes known to play roles during vesicle transport and fusion or for maintenance of the differentiated cell state, suggesting impaired apical secretion of Sertoli cells
|
endocrine/exocrine glands
|
|
• at P18, mutant tubules exhibit a disorganized germinal epithelium with numerous vacuoles and no lumen
• however, no differences with regard to vacuolization of the cytoplasm or (dis-) organization of the germinal epithelium are noted in adult mutant tubules relative to controls, indicating that the phenotype observed at P18 is transient
• moreover, no significant differences are observed between the % of TUNEL-positive mutant tubules vs control tubules
|
|
|
• whereas at P18 mutant tubules display a slightly, yet significantly increased diameter, at P20 mutant tubules exhibit a significantly reduced average diameter relative to control tubules
|
|
|
• at P18, mutant Sertoli cells display a developmental delay in lumen formation with only 32% of mutant tubules exhibiting a lumen vs 75% of control tubules
• at P20, only 50% of mutant tubules display a lumen vs 87% of control tubules
|
|
|
• gene expression profiling revealed differential expression of genes known to play roles during vesicle transport and fusion or for maintenance of the differentiated cell state, suggesting impaired apical secretion of Sertoli cells
|
homeostasis/metabolism
|
• at P56-P365, adult mutant males exhibit significantly reduced serum testosterone levels relative to control males
• in contrast, adult serum follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels remain relatively unaffected
|
