Mouse models of infertility due to swollen spermatozoa

Transgenic mice with male infertility, the c-ros knockout (KO) and GPX5-Tag2 transgenic mouse models, are compared. Both exhibit severely angulated sperm flagella explaining the infertility. As angulated spermatozoa are swollen cells, a failure in volume regulation is indicated. Differences between genotypes were also found: caudal spermatozoa from c-ros KO, but not GPX5-Tag2, could fertilise eggs in vitro; flagellar angulation occurred more within the epididymis of GPX5-Tag2 than c-ros KO mice; the osmotic pressure of cauda epididymidal fluid was lower only in GPX5-Tag2 mice; angulation of caudal sperm from c-ros KO, but not GPX5-Tag2 mice, decreased upon demembranation. These observations indicate that GPX5-Tag2 mice express an earlier, more severe defect. Gene chip analyses of the epididymides revealed decreased expression of the CRES (cystatin-related epididymal-spermatogenic) and MEP17 (murine epididymal protein 17) genes in both genotypes. Further analysis could pinpoint genes essential for epididymal regulation of sperm volume, explain infertility and suggest modes of male contraception.