EGFR ligands exert diverging effects on male reproductive organs

Experimental and Molecular Pathology
Marlon R SchneiderThomas Klonisch

Abstract

While the EGFR and most of its ligands are expressed in the male reproductive tract, their functions in male reproduction are poorly understood. Interestingly, male transgenic mice overexpressing EGF are sterile, and transgenic mice overexpressing TGFA, another EGFR ligand, show an enlarged coagulation gland (anterior prostate) due to severe hyperplasia with focal dysplasia. We studied the male reproductive tract of transgenic mice overexpressing betacellulin (BTC-tg) under the control of a promoter conferring widespread transgene expression. Despite strong overexpression of BTC in different parts of the male reproductive tract, the gross appearance and histology of the reproductive organs of BTC-tg males were normal and the same were true for sperm parameters and the in vitro fertilization rate. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that excess of BTC exerts no deleterious effects on the structure or function of the male reproductive tract in mice and indicates unique, non-overlapping functions of specific EGFR ligands in male reproduction.

References

Apr 5, 2000·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·R W WongS Y Chan
Oct 19, 2001·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·M R SchneiderH Lahm
Mar 22, 2003·Experimental Cell Research·Raymond C HarrisRobert J Coffey
Jul 11, 2006·Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology·Ami Citri, Yosef Yarden
Nov 15, 2007·Differentiation; Research in Biological Diversity·Maria SibiliaMartin Holcmann
Nov 30, 2007·Cell·Yosef Yarden, Ben-Zion Shilo
Jun 17, 2008·The American Journal of Pathology·Marlon R SchneiderEckhard Wolf
Nov 14, 2008·Journal of Cellular Physiology·Marlon R Schneider, Eckhard Wolf

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Citations

Jan 21, 2014·Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology·Maik DahlhoffMarlon R Schneider
Mar 13, 2014·Animal Reproduction Science·D M HeringS Kaminski

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