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Updated: Aug 3, 2025

A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model
Published on: February 6, 2018
LCRMP-1 is required for spermatogenesis and stabilises spermatid F-actin organization via the PI3K-Akt pathway
Jung-Hsuan Chang1, Chia-Hua Chou1, Jui-Ching Wu1
1Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Long-form collapsin response mediator protein-1 (LCRMP-1) belongs to the CRMP family which comprises brain-enriched proteins responsible for axon guidance. However, its role in spermatogenesis remains unclear. Here we find that LCRMP-1 is abundantly expressed in the testis. To characterize its physiological function, we generate LCRMP-1-deficient mice (Lcrmp-1-/-). These mice exhibit aberrant spermiation with apoptotic spermatids, oligospermia, and accumulation of immature testicular cells, contributing to reduced fertility. In the seminiferous epithelial cycle, LCRMP-1 expression pattern varies in a stage-dependent manner. LCRMP-1 is highly expressed in spermatids during spermatogenesis and especially localized to the spermiation machinery during spermiation. Mechanistically, LCRMP-1 deficiency causes disorganized F-actin due to unbalanced signaling of F-actin dynamics through upregulated PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling. In conclusion, LCRMP-1 maintains spermatogenesis homeostasis by modulating cytoskeleton remodeling for spermatozoa release.
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