Meiosis I Arrest Abnormalities Lead to Severe Oligozoospermia in Meiosis 1 Arresting Protein (M1ap)-Deficient Mice

Authors

Nelson Alexander Arango, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Li Li, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Deepa V. Dabir, Loyola Marymount UniversityFollow
Fotini Nicolau, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Rafael Pieretti-Vanmarcke, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Carla Koehler, University of California, Los Angeles
John R. McCarrey, University of Texas at San Antonio
Naifang Lu, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Patricia K. Donahoe, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

Meiosis 1 arresting protein (M1ap) is a novel vertebrate gene expressed exclusively in germ cells of the embryonic ovary and the adult testis. In male mice, M1ap expression, which is present from spermatogonia to secondary spermatocytes, is evolutionarily conserved and has a specific spatial and temporal pattern suggestive of a role during germ cell development. To test its function, mice deficient in M1ap were created. Whereas females had histologically normal ovaries, males exhibited reduced testicular size and a myriad of tubular defects, which led to severe oligozoospermia and infertility. Although some germ cells arrested at the zygotene/pachytene stages, most cells advanced to metaphase I before arresting and entering apoptosis. Cells that reached metaphase I were unable to properly align their chromosomes at the metaphase plate due to abnormal chromosome synapses and failure to form crossover foci. Depending on the state of tubular degeneration, all germ cells, with the exemption of spermatogonia, disappeared; with further deterioration, tubules displaying only Sertoli cells reminiscent of Sertoli cell-only syndrome in humans were observed. Our results uncovered an essential role for M1ap as a novel germ cell gene not previously implicated in male germ cell development and suggest that mutations in M1AP could account for some cases of nonobstructive oligozoospermia in men.

Original Publication Citation

Arango NA, Li L, Dabir D, et al. Meiosis I Arrest Abnormalities Lead to Severe Oligozoospermia in Meiosis 1 Arresting Protein (M1ap)-Deficient Mice . Biology of Reproduction. 2013;88(3):76. doi:10.1095/biolreprod.111.098673.

Publisher Statement

© 2013 by the Society for the Study of Reproduction, Inc.

Digital Commons @ LMU & LLS Citation

Arango, Nelson Alexander; Li, Li; Dabir, Deepa V.; Nicolau, Fotini; Pieretti-Vanmarcke, Rafael; Koehler, Carla; McCarrey, John R.; Lu, Naifang; and Donahoe, Patricia K., "Meiosis I Arrest Abnormalities Lead to Severe Oligozoospermia in Meiosis 1 Arresting Protein (M1ap)-Deficient Mice" (2013). Biology Faculty Works. 44.
https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/bio_fac/44