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18 May 2021 Testicular localization of activating transcription factor 1 and its potential function during spermatogenesis
Masanori Tabara, Koji Shiraishi, Ryosuke Takii, Mitsuaki Fujimoto, Akira Nakai, Hideyasu Matsuyama
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Activating transcription factor 1 (ATF1), belonging to the CREB/ATF family of transcription factors, is highly expressed in the testes. However, its role in spermatogenesis has not yet been established. Here, we aimed to elucidate the impact of ATF1 in spermatogenesis by examining the expression pattern of ATF1 in mice and the effect of ATF1 knockdown in the mouse testes. We found that ATF1 is expressed in various organs, with very high levels in the testes. Immunohistochemical staining showed that ATF1 was localized in the nuclei of spermatogonia and co-localized with proliferating cell nuclear antigen. In ATF1-deficient mice, the seminiferous tubules of the testis contained cells at all developmental stages; however, the number of spermatocytes was decreased. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression was decreased and apoptotic cells were rare in the seminiferous tubules. These results indicate that ATF1 plays a role in male germ cell proliferation and sperm production.

Summary sentence

ATF1, which is highly expressed in the testes, contributes to the regulation of male germ cell proliferation and sperm production.

© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for the Study of Reproduction. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com
Masanori Tabara, Koji Shiraishi, Ryosuke Takii, Mitsuaki Fujimoto, Akira Nakai, and Hideyasu Matsuyama "Testicular localization of activating transcription factor 1 and its potential function during spermatogenesis," Biology of Reproduction 105(4), 976-986, (18 May 2021). https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioab099
Received: 9 December 2020; Accepted: 14 May 2021; Published: 18 May 2021
KEYWORDS
ATF1
proliferation
spermatogenesis
spermatogonia
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