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CIB1 is essential for mouse spermatogenesis

Weiping Yuan1, Tina M Leisner, Andrew W McFadden

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

Molecular and Cellular Biology
|September 20, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Calcium and Integrin Binding protein 1 (CIB1) is crucial for male fertility. CIB1 knockout mice show disrupted spermatogenesis and male sterility, indicating CIB1

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Reproductive Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Calcium and Integrin Binding protein 1 (CIB1) is a regulatory protein with homology to calmodulin and calcineurin B.
  • CIB1 is widely expressed and interacts with various effector proteins, including integrin alphaIIb, PAK1, and polo-like kinases.
  • The in vivo functions of CIB1 remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the in vivo functions of CIB1 in whole animals.
  • To investigate the role of CIB1 in spermatogenesis and cell cycle regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells was used to generate CIB1 knockout (Cib1(-/-)) mice.
  • Analysis of testis size, germ cell numbers, apoptosis, and sperm morphology in Cib1(-/-) mice.
  • Assessment of cell cycle regulator Cdc2/Cdk1 expression in Cib1(-/-) testes.
  • Growth rate analysis of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from Cib1(-/-) mice.

Main Results:

  • Cib1(-/-) mice exhibit normal growth but males are sterile due to disrupted spermatogenesis.
  • Reduced testis size, decreased germ cell numbers, increased germ cell apoptosis, and loss of elongated spermatids and sperm were observed in knockout males.
  • Increased mRNA and protein expression of Cdc2/Cdk1 was detected in Cib1(-/-) testes.
  • Cib1(-/-) MEFs displayed a significantly slower growth rate compared to wild-type MEFs.

Conclusions:

  • CIB1 plays a critical role in regulating the cell cycle.
  • CIB1 is essential for the differentiation of spermatogenic germ cells and/or Sertoli cells.
  • Disruption of CIB1 leads to male sterility through impaired spermatogenesis.

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