• PMID: 29743260
• Gene Name: CNBP
• Condition: Testis development, Spermatogenesis, male infertility
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Testis development, Spermatogenesis, male infertility

Cellular nucleic acid-binding protein is vital to testis development and spermatogenesis in mice

Zheng B, Yu J, Guo Y, Gao T, Shen C, Zhang X, Li H, Huang X.

The cellular nucleic acid-binding protein (CNBP), also known as zinc finger protein 9, is a highly conserved zinc finger protein that is strikingly conserved among vertebrates. Data collected from lower vertebrates showed that CNBP is expressed at high levels and distributed in the testes during spermatogenesis. However, the location and function of CNBP in mammalian testes are not well known. Here, by neonatal mouse testis culture and spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) culture methods, we studied the effect of CNBP knockdown on neonatal testicular development. Our results revealed that CNBP was mainly located in the early germ cells and Sertoli cells. Knockdown of CNBP using morpholino in neonatal testis culture caused disruption of seminiferous tubules, mislocation of Sertoli cells and loss of germ cells, which were associated with the aberrant Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation. However, knockdown of CNBP in SSC culture did not affect the survival of germ cells. In conclusion, our study suggests that CNBP could maintain testicular development by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, particularly by influencing Sertoli cells. CI - © 2018 Society for Reproduction and Fertility. FAU - Zheng, Bo AU - Zheng B AD - Center for Reproduction and GeneticsSuzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China bbhxy@njmu.edu.cn hongliszivf@163.com mansnoopy@163.com. AD - State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. FAU - Yu, Jun AU - Yu J AD - State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. AD - Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyAffiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China. FAU - Guo, Yueshuai AU - Guo Y AD - State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. AD - The Affiliated Wuxi Matemity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityWuxi, China. FAU - Gao, Tingting AU - Gao T AD - State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. AD - Center of Clinical Reproductive MedicineThe Affiliated Changzhou Matemity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China. FAU - Shen, Cong AU - Shen C AD - Center for Reproduction and GeneticsSuzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China. AD - State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. FAU - Zhang, Xi AU - Zhang X AD - State Key Laboratory of Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. FAU - Li, Hong AU - Li H AD - Center for Reproduction and GeneticsSuzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China bbhxy@njmu.edu.cn hongliszivf@163.com mansnoopy@163.com.