Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 4, 2025

A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model
Published on: February 6, 2018
WDFY1, a WD40 repeat protein, is not essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility in mice
Chunyu Lv1, Mengneng Xiong2, Shuangshuang Guo2
1Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Neuronal Structural Biology, Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China.
Abstract:
The mouse WD repeat and FYVE domain containing 1 (Wdfy1) gene is located in chromosome 1qC4 and spans over 73.7 kilobases. It encodes a protein of 410-amino acid protein that shares 97.8% amino acid sequence identity with the human WDFY1 protein. However, the expression pattern of WDFY1 in reproductive organs and its function in male fertility remain unknown. In this study, we generated transgenic mice expressing FLAG-Wdfy1-mCherry cDNA driven by the Wdfy1 promoter to clarify the expression of WDFY1. The results showed that WDFY1 is highly expressed in mouse testes and located in the cytoplasm of late pachytene spermatocytes to elongated spermatids. Interestingly, the global Wdfy1 knockout (KO) male mice displayed normal growth, development, and fertility. Further histological analysis of Wdfy1 knockout mouse testes revealed that all spermatogenic cells are present in Wdfy1 KO seminiferous tubules. Together, our data demonstrate that WDFY1 is dispensable for mouse spermatogenesis and male fertility.
Related Concept Videos
The Y Chromosome Determines Maleness
Evolution
Around 300 million years ago, the two sex chromosomes diverged from two identical autosomal chromosomes. Over time, the Y chromosome has lost most of its genes, shrinking in size....
The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female...
Spermatogenesis
Dosage Compensation
In addition to sexual development, the X chromosome has genes involved in autosomal functions such as brain development and the immune system. Therefore, males and females with distinct numbers of X chromosomes will...

