• PMID: 17434507
• Gene Name: PLAU
• Condition: Spermatogenic defects
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Spermatogenic defects

Male fertility and protein C inhibitor/plasminogen activator inhibitor-3 (PCI): localization of PCI in mouse testis and failure of single plasminogen activator knockout to restore spermatogenesis in PCI-deficient mice

Uhrin P, Schöfer C, Zaujec J, Ryban L, Hilpert M, Weipoltshammer K, Jerabek I, Pirtzkall I, Furtmüller M, Dewerchin M, Binder BR, Geiger M.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanisms responsible for the testicular abnormalities and infertility of previously generated male protein C inhibitor (PCI)-deficient mice. DESIGN: Determination of the localization of PCI in the reproductive organs of wild-type males. Generation of double knockout mice lacking the protease inhibitor PCI and one plasminogen activator, either urokinase (uPA) or tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), both of which are PCI-target proteases. SETTING: Animal research and histologic analysis. ANIMAL(S): Male mice of desired genotype. INTERVENTION(S): Fertility testing of double knockout mice. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Infertility of PCI(-/-)uPA(-/-) and PCI(-/-)tPA(-/-) double knockout mice. RESULT(S): In the testes of wild-type males PCI was detected in spermatocytes of prophase I, as well as in late spermatids and mature spermatozoa, but absent from somatic cells. All PCI(-/-) uPA(-/-) and PCI(-/-) tPA(-/-) male mice were infertile and histologic analysis of testis showed similar alterations as previously described for PCI(-/-) mice. CONCLUSION(S): The abnormal spermatogenesis of PCI (plasminogen activator inhibitor-3)-deficient mice cannot be rescued by single plasminogen activator knockout. FAU - Uhrin, Pavel AU - Uhrin P AD - Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center for Biomolecular Medicine and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. FAU - Schöfer, Christian AU - Schöfer C FAU - Zaujec, Jan AU - Zaujec J FAU - Ryban, Lubos AU - Ryban L FAU - Hilpert, Mario AU - Hilpert M FAU - Weipoltshammer, Klara AU - Weipoltshammer K FAU - Jerabek, Ingrid AU - Jerabek I FAU - Pirtzkall, Irene AU - Pirtzkall I FAU - Furtmüller, Margareta AU - Furtmüller M FAU - Dewerchin, Mieke AU - Dewerchin M FAU - Binder, Bernd R AU - Binder BR