• PMID: 16564520
• Gene Name: SOHLH1
• Condition: Essentail for spermatogonial differentiation
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Essentail for spermatogonial differentiation

Sohlh1 is essential for spermatogonial differentiation

Ballow D, Meistrich ML, Matzuk M, Rajkovic A.

Spermatogonia are adult germline stem cells that can both self-renew and differentiate into spermatocytes. Little is known about factors necessary for spermatogonial differentiation. We identified a novel germ-cell-specific transcription factor that we named Sohlh1 (testis and ovary expressed basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor). In males, Sohlh1 is preferentially expressed in prespermatogonia and Type A spermatogonia. Loss of Sohlh1 causes infertility by disrupting spermatogonial differentiation into spermatocytes. Seven-day-old testes without Sohlh1 still express the testis-specific transcription factors Etv5, Taf4b, Zfp148, and Plzf, overexpress a novel Tohlh2 bHLH transcription factor, but lack LIM homeobox gene Lhx8 and show reduced expression of Ngn3. Sohlh1 represents the first testis-specific bHLH transcription factor that is essential for spermatogonial differentiation. FAU - Ballow, D AU - Ballow D AD - Faculty Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1709 Dryden Street, Suite 1100, Houston, TX 77030, USA. FAU - Meistrich, M L AU - Meistrich ML FAU - Matzuk, M AU - Matzuk M