• PMID: 24258212
• Gene Name: FOXP3
• Condition: Male infertility
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Male infertility

The forkhead transcription factor, FOXP3: a critical role in male fertility in mice

Jasurda JS, Jung DO, Froeter ED, Schwartz DB, Hopkins TD, Farris CL, McGee S, Narayan P, Ellsworth BS.

Fertility is dependent on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Each component of this axis is essential for normal reproductive function. Mice with a mutation in the forkhead transcription factor gene, Foxp3, exhibit autoimmunity and infertility. We have previously shown that Foxp3 mutant mice have significantly reduced expression of pituitary gonadotropins. To address the role of Foxp3 in gonadal function, we examined the gonadal phenotype of these mice. Foxp3 mutant mice have significantly reduced seminal vesicle and testis weights compared with Foxp3(+/Y) littermates. Spermatogenesis in Foxp3 mutant males is arrested prior to spermatid elongation. Activation of luteinizing hormone signaling in Foxp3 mutant mice by treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin significantly increases seminal vesicle and testis weights as well as testicular testosterone content and seminiferous tubule diameter. Interestingly, human chorionic gonadotropin treatments rescue spermatogenesis in Foxp3 mutant males, suggesting that their gonadal phenotype is due primarily to a loss of pituitary gonadotropin stimulation rather than an intrinsic gonadal defect. FAU - Jasurda, Jake S AU - Jasurda JS AD - Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois. FAU - Jung, Deborah O AU - Jung DO FAU - Froeter, Erin D AU - Froeter ED FAU - Schwartz, David B AU - Schwartz DB FAU - Hopkins, Torin D AU - Hopkins TD FAU - Farris, Corrie L AU - Farris CL FAU - McGee, Stacey AU - McGee S FAU - Narayan, Prema AU - Narayan P