Seminiferous tubule degeneration and infertility in mice with sustained activation of WNT/CTNNB1 signaling in sertoli cells

Biol Reprod. 2008 Sep;79(3):475-85. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.108.068627. Epub 2008 May 14.

Abstract

WNT/CTNNB1 signaling is involved in the regulation of multiple embryonic developmental processes, adult tissue homeostasis, abd cell fate determination and differentiation. Many WNTs and components of the WNT/CTNNB1 signaling pathway are expressed in the testis, but their physiological roles in this organ are largely unknown. To elucidate the role(s) of WNT/CTNNB1 signaling in the testis, transgenic Ctnnb1 tm1Mmt/+;Amhr2 tm3(cre)Bhr/+ mice were generated to obtain sustained activation of the WNT/CTNNB1 pathway in both Leydig and Sertoli cells. Male Ctnnb1 tm1Mmt/+;Amhr2 tm3(cre)Bhr/+ mice were sterile because of testicular atrophy starting at 5 wk of age, associated with degeneration of seminiferous tubules and the progressive loss of germ cells. Although Cre activity was expected in Ctnnb1 tm1Mmt/+;Amhr2 tm3(cre)Bhr/+ Leydig cells, no evidence of Cre-mediated recombination of the floxed allele or of WNT/CTNNB1 pathway activation could be obtained, and testosterone levels were comparable to age-matched controls, suggesting that genetic recombination was inefficient in Leydig cells. Conversely, sustained WNT/CTNNB1 pathway activation was obtained in Ctnnb1 tm1Mmt/+;Amhr2 tm3(cre)Bhr/+ Sertoli cells. The latter often exhibited morphological characteristics suggestive of incomplete differentiation that appeared in a manner coincident with germ cell loss, and this was accompanied by an increase in the expression of the immature Sertoli cell marker AMH. In addition, a poorly differentiated, WT1-positive somatic cell population accumulated in multilayered foci near the basement membrane of many seminiferous tubules. Together, these data suggest that the WNT/CTNNB1 pathway regulates Sertoli cell functions critical to their capacity to support spermatogenesis in the postnatal testis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atrophy / genetics
  • Atrophy / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Infertility, Male / genetics*
  • Infertility, Male / metabolism
  • Integrases / genetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Seminiferous Tubules / metabolism
  • Seminiferous Tubules / pathology*
  • Sertoli Cells / metabolism*
  • Sertoli Cells / pathology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Spermatogenesis / genetics
  • Testicular Diseases / genetics
  • Testicular Diseases / metabolism
  • Testicular Diseases / pathology
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • Wnt Proteins / physiology
  • beta Catenin / genetics*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / physiology

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, mouse
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases