Deletion of the PDZ-binding kinase (Pbk) gene does not affect male fertility in mice
Yuka Miki A , Lalitha Devi B C , Yuji Imai B , Naojiro Minami A , Tsuyoshi Koide B and Sandeep Goel
A C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
B Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka-ken 411-8540, Japan.
C Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, India.
D Corresponding author. Email: sandeep@ccmb.res.in
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 32(10) 893-902 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD19445
Submitted: 5 December 2019 Accepted: 23 April 2020 Published: 9 June 2020
Abstract
The PDZ-binding kinase (PBK) protein is localised exclusively in spermatogenic cells, such as spermatogonia, spermatocytes and round spermatids, of the adult testis. However, its role in male fertility remains unknown. Analysis of adult Pbk-knockout (KO) male mice showed no significant difference in the weight of the testes, epididymis and seminal vesicle compared with adult wild-type (WT) mice. There were no significant differences in testis morphology, tubule diameter and the number of offspring born to females mated with KO or WT male mice. Sperm number, motility and morphology did not differ significantly between KO and WT mice. The oocyte fertilisation rate and embryo development following IVF were comparable between groups fertilised using spermatozoa from KO versus WT mice (P > 0.05). Further analysis revealed that the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) p38 kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases was dysregulated in the testis of KO mice. In conclusion, Pbk-KO male mice are fertile and their spermatozoa and testis do not show any morphological and functional abnormalities despite the dysregulated phosphorylation of MAPKs. It is likely that functional redundancy of PBK and overlapping substrate specificities of the MAPK superfamily compensated for the loss of PBK from the testis.
Additional keywords: gametogenesis, IVF, testis.
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