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The Sertoli cell expressed gene secernin‐1 ( Scrn1 ) is dispensable for male fertility in the mouse
Author(s) -
Houston Brendan J.,
Nagirnaja Liina,
Merriner D. Jo,
O'Connor Anne E.,
Okuda Hidenobu,
Omurtag Kenan,
Smith Craig,
Aston Kenneth I.,
Conrad Donald F.,
O'Bryan Moira K.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.299
Subject(s) - biology , sertoli cell , spermatogenesis , fertility , andrology , male infertility , knockout mouse , gene , sperm , male fertility , gene knockout , genetics , sperm motility , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , infertility , population , medicine , pregnancy , demography , sociology
Background Male infertility is a prevalent clinical presentation for which there is likely a strong genetic component due to the thousands of genes required for spermatogenesis. Within this study we investigated the role of the gene Scrn1 in male fertility. Scrn1 is preferentially expressed in XY gonads during the period of sex determination and in adult Sertoli cells based on single cell RNA sequencing. We investigated the expression of Scrn1 in juvenile and adult tissues and generated a knockout mouse model to test its role in male fertility. Results Scrn1 was expressed at all ages examined in the post‐natal testis; however, its expression peaked at postnatal days 7‐14 and SCRN1 protein was clearly localized to Sertoli cells. Scrn1 deletion was achieved via removal of exon 3, and its loss had no effect on male fertility or sex determination. Knockout mice were capable of siring litters of equal size to wild type counterparts and generated equal numbers of sperm with comparable motility and morphology characteristics. Conclusions Scrn1 was found to be dispensable for male fertility, but this study identifies SCRN1 as a novel marker of the Sertoli cell cytoplasm.