Mouse Ptchd3 is a non-essential gene

Mouse Ptchd3 (patched domain containing 3) was previously identified as a male germ-cell specific gene. The protein product of this gene has been found on the surface of mouse, rat and human sperm. Since Ptchd3 contains a conserved patched domain, we hypothesize that it functions as a membrane receptor for the hedgehog ligand. Herein, we used a Ptchd3 knockout mouse model to study its function in mouse development and spermatogenesis. We found that Ptchd3 knockout mice were born and lived normally. The fertility and sperm production of knockout males were not changed. Moreover, our data indicated that the expression levels of several hedgehog signaling genes were not affected in mutant testis. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that Ptchd3 is a non-essential gene in mouse development and spermatogenesis.