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Dai P, Ma C, Chen C, Liang M, Dong S, Chen H, Zhang X. Unlocking Genetic Mysteries during the Epic Sperm Journey toward Fertilization: Further Expanding Cre Mouse Lines. Biomolecules 2024; 14:529. [PMID: 38785936 PMCID: PMC11117649 DOI: 10.3390/biom14050529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The spatiotemporal expression patterns of genes are crucial for maintaining normal physiological functions in animals. Conditional gene knockout using the cyclization recombination enzyme (Cre)/locus of crossover of P1 (Cre/LoxP) strategy has been extensively employed for functional assays at specific tissue or developmental stages. This approach aids in uncovering the associations between phenotypes and gene regulation while minimizing interference among distinct tissues. Various Cre-engineered mouse models have been utilized in the male reproductive system, including Dppa3-MERCre for primordial germ cells, Ddx4-Cre and Stra8-Cre for spermatogonia, Prm1-Cre and Acrv1-iCre for haploid spermatids, Cyp17a1-iCre for the Leydig cell, Sox9-Cre for the Sertoli cell, and Lcn5/8/9-Cre for differentiated segments of the epididymis. Notably, the specificity and functioning stage of Cre recombinases vary, and the efficiency of recombination driven by Cre depends on endogenous promoters with different sequences as well as the constructed Cre vectors, even when controlled by an identical promoter. Cre mouse models generated via traditional recombination or CRISPR/Cas9 also exhibit distinct knockout properties. This review focuses on Cre-engineered mouse models applied to the male reproductive system, including Cre-targeting strategies, mouse model screening, and practical challenges encountered, particularly with novel mouse strains over the past decade. It aims to provide valuable references for studies conducted on the male reproductive system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Xiaoning Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; (P.D.); (C.M.); (C.C.); (M.L.); (S.D.); (H.C.)
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Gassei K, Sheng Y, Fayomi A, Mital P, Sukhwani M, Lin CC, Peters KA, Althouse A, Valli H, Orwig KE. DDX4-EGFP transgenic rat model for the study of germline development and spermatogenesis. Biol Reprod 2017; 96:707-719. [PMID: 28339678 PMCID: PMC5803776 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.116.142828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) are essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility. In addition, these adult tissue stem cells can be used as vehicles for germline modification in animal models and may have application for treating male infertility. To facilitate the investigation of SSCs and germ lineage development in rats, we generated a DEAD-box helicase 4 (DDX4) (VASA) promoter-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter transgenic rat. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence confirmed that EGFP was expressed in the germ cells of the ovaries and testes and was absent in somatic cells and tissues. Germ cell transplantation demonstrated that the EGFP-positive germ cell population from DDX4-EGFP rat testes contained SSCs capable of establishing spermatogenesis in experimentally infertile mouse recipient testes. EGFP-positive germ cells could be easily isolated by fluorescence-activated cells sorting, while simultaneously removing testicular somatic cells from DDX4-EGFP rat pup testes. The EGFP-positive fraction provided an optimal cell suspension to establish rat SSC cultures that maintained long-term expression of zinc finger and BTB domain containing 16 (ZBTB16) and spalt-like transcription factor 4 (SALL4), two markers of mouse SSCs that are conserved in rats. The novel DDX4-EGFP germ cell reporter rat described here combined with previously described GCS-EGFP rats, rat SSC culture and gene editing tools will improve the utility of the rat model for studying stem cells and germ lineage development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Gassei
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Yi Sheng
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | | | - Payal Mital
- Sawai Man Singh Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, India
| | - Meena Sukhwani
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Chih-Cheng Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Karen A Peters
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Andrew Althouse
- Heart and Vascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Hanna Valli
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kyle E Orwig
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
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Zeng W, Tang L, Bondareva A, Honaramooz A, Tanco V, Dores C, Megee S, Modelski M, Rodriguez-Sosa JR, Paczkowski M, Silva E, Wheeler M, Krisher RL, Dobrinski I. Viral transduction of male germline stem cells results in transgene transmission after germ cell transplantation in pigs. Biol Reprod 2013; 88:27. [PMID: 23221397 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.104422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic modification of germline stem cells (GSCs) is an alternative approach to generate large transgenic animals where transgenic GSCs are transplanted into a recipient testis to generate donor-derived transgenic sperm. The objective of the present study was to explore the application of viral vectors in delivering an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transgene into GSCs for production of transgenic gametes through germ cell transplantation. Both adeno-associated virus (AAV)- and lentivirus (LV)-based vectors were effective in transducing pig GSCs, resulting in the production of transgenic sperm in recipient boars. Twenty-one boars treated with busulfan to deplete endogenous GSCs and nine nontreated boars received germ cell transplantation at 12 wk of age. Semen was collected from recipient boars from 5 to 7 mo posttransplantation when boars became sexually mature, and semen collection continued for as long as 5 yr for some boars. The percentage of ejaculates that were positive for the EGFP transgene ranged from 0% to 54.8% for recipients of AAV vector-transduced germ cells (n = 17) and from 0% to 25% for recipients of LV vector-transduced germ cells (n = 5). When semen from two AAV recipients was used for in vitro fertilization (IVF), 9.09% and 64.3% of embryos were transgenic. Semen collected from two LV-vector recipients produced 7.7% and 26.3% transgenic IVF embryos. Here, we not only demonstrated AAV-mediated GSC transduction in another large animal model (pigs) but also showed, to our knowledge for the first time, that LV-mediated GSC transduction resulted in transgene transmission in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxian Zeng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, 22 Xi-Nong Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
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Pellegrini M, Claps G, Orlova VV, Barrios F, Dolci S, Geremia R, Rossi P, Rossi G, Arnold B, Chavakis T, Feigenbaum L, Sharan SK, Nussenzweig A. Targeted JAM-C deletion in germ cells by Spo11-controlled Cre recombinase. J Cell Sci 2010; 124:91-9. [PMID: 21147852 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.072959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is a crucial process for the production of functional gametes. However, the biological significance of many genes expressed during the meiotic phase remains poorly understood, mainly because of the lethal phenotypes of the knockout mice. Functional analysis of such genes using the conditional knockout approach is hindered by the lack of suitable Cre transgenic lines. We describe here the generation of transgenic mice expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the meiotic Spo11 gene. Using LacZ-R26(loxP) and EYFP-R26(loxP) reporter mice, we show the specific expression and activity of Cre during meiosis in males and females. Spo11(Cre) mice were then crossed with floxed Nbs1 and JAM-C mice to produce conditional knockouts. A strong reduction of Nbs1 and JAM-C protein levels was found in the testis. Although Nbs1-deleted mice developed minor gonadal abnormalities, JAM-C-knockout mice showed a spermiogenetic arrest, as previously described for the null mice. These results provide strong evidence that Spo11(Cre) transgenic mice represent a powerful tool for deleting genes of interest specifically in meiotic and/or in postmeiotic germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Pellegrini
- Department of Public Health and Cellular Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', 00133 Rome, Italy.
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Smith L. Good planning and serendipity: exploiting the Cre/Lox system in the testis. Reproduction 2010; 141:151-61. [PMID: 21084571 DOI: 10.1530/rep-10-0404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 20 years, genetic manipulation has revolutionised our understanding of male reproductive development and function. The advent of transgenic mouse lines has permitted elegant dissection of previously intractable issues. The development of the Cre/Lox system, which has permitted spatial and temporal localisation of genetic manipulation, has expanded upon this, and now makes up one of the primary approaches underpinning our increasing understanding of testis development and function. The success of conditional gene targeting is largely reliant upon the choice of Cre recombinase expressing mouse line, which is required to specifically target the correct cell type at the correct time. Presupposition that Cre lines will behave as expected has been one of the main oversights in the design of Cre/Lox experiments, as in practice, many Cre lines are prone to ectopic expression (both temporal and spatial), transgene silencing or genetic background effects. Empirical validation of the spatiotemporal profile of Cre expression prior to undertaking conditional gene targeting studies is essential and can be achieved through a combination of molecular and immunohistochemical approaches, along with in vivo examination of reporter gene expression in targeted tissues. This paper details the key considerations associated with exploitation of the Cre/Lox system and highlights a variety of validated Cre lines that have utility for conditional gene targeting within the testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Smith
- MRC Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
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Inselman AL, Nakamura N, Brown PR, Willis WD, Goulding EH, Eddy EM. Heat shock protein 2 promoter drives Cre expression in spermatocytes of transgenic mice. Genesis 2010; 48:114-20. [PMID: 20027617 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.20588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
We generated transgenic mouse line C57BL/6-Tg(Hspa2-cre)1Eddy/J (Hspa2-cre), which expresses cre-recombinase under the control of a 907-bp fragment of the heat shock protein 2 (Hspa2) gene promoter. Transgene expression was determined using Gt(ROSA)26Sor(tm1Sor)/J (ROSA26) and Tg(CAG-Bgeo/GFP)21Lbe/J (Z/EG) reporter strains and RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry assays. Hspa2-cre expression mimicked the spermatogenic cell-specific expression of endogenous HSPA2 within the testis, being first observed in leptotene/zygotene spermatocytes. Expression of the transgene also was detected at restricted sites in the brain, as occurs for endogenous HSPA2. Although the results of mating the Hspa2-cre mice to mice with a floxed Cdc2a allele indicated that some expression of the transgene occurs during embryogenesis, the Hspa2-cre mice provide a valuable new tool for assessing the roles of genes during and after meiotic prophase in pachytene spermatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Inselman
- Gamete Biology Section, Laboratory of Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
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Chung SSW, Cuzin F, Rassoulzadegan M, Wolgemuth DJ. Primary spermatocyte-specific Cre recombinase activity in transgenic mice. Transgenic Res 2005; 13:289-94. [PMID: 15359605 PMCID: PMC3778662 DOI: 10.1023/b:trag.0000034716.73957.f7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
We have evaluated the specificity of Cre recombinase activity in transgenic mice expressing Cre under the control of the synatonemal complex protein 1 (Sycp1) gene promoter. Sycp1Cre mice were crossed with the ROSA26 reporter line R26R, to monitor the male germ cell stage-specificity of Cre activity as well as to verify that Cre was not active previously during development of other tissues. X-gal staining detected Cre-mediated recombination only in testis. Detailed histological examination indicated that weak Cre-mediated recombination occurred as early as in zygotene spermatocytes at stage XI of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. Robust expression of X-gal was detected in early to mid-late spermatocytes at stages V-VIII. We conclude that this transgenic line is a powerful tool for deleting genes of interest specifically during male meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanny S. W. Chung
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W, 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | | | - Debra J. Wolgemuth
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W, 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W, 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA
- The Center for Reproductive Sciences, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W, 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA
- The Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W, 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA
- The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W, 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Author for correspondence:
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