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Updated: Jun 13, 2025
Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats
Published on: October 13, 2018
AKAP14 is dispensable for mouse fertility
Zishuo Xu1, Ansar Hussain1, Hanwei Jiang1
1Center for Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
A-kinase anchoring protein 14 (AKAP14) is highly expressed in testes, but knockout mice show normal fertility. AKAP14 is dispensable for male fertility and spermatogenesis in mice.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Molecular Endocrinology
- Genetics
Background:
- A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) are diverse scaffold proteins crucial for cellular function.
- AKAP14 is highly expressed in human and mouse testicular tissues, suggesting a potential role in male fertility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological function of AKAP14 in male fertility and spermatogenesis.
- To determine if AKAP14 is essential for reproductive health in mice.
Main Methods:
- Generated Akap14 knockout mice using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology.
- Assessed male fertility parameters including testes-to-body weight ratio, sperm count, motility, and morphology.
- Examined meiotic prophase I progression in Akap14 knockout testes.
Main Results:
- Akap14 knockout mice exhibited normal fertility, comparable to wild-type littermates.
- Sperm count, motility, and morphology were not affected by AKAP14 depletion.
- Meiotic prophase I progression was normal in Akap14 knockout testes, indicating intact spermatogenesis.
Conclusions:
- AKAP14 is dispensable for male fertility and spermatogenesis in mice.
- Despite high testicular expression, AKAP14 does not play a critical role in murine reproductive health.
- Further research on AKAP14's role in mouse spermatogenesis may not be necessary, conserving research resources.
