Japan Society for the Promotion of Science:Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
Date (from‐to) : 2013/04 -2016/03
Author : Iwatsuki Shoichiro; KUBOTA Hiroki; UMEMOTO Ukihiro; SASAKI Shoichi; KOHRI Kenjiro
In this study, we assessed functions of Numb and Numb-like, which are inhibitory factors of Notch signal pathway, in rat spermatogenesis using in vivo gene transfer technique.
By immunohistochemistry, Numb and Numb-like were expressed in spermatocytes and later germ cells; however, Numb expression level was relatively lower in elongated spermatids then in spermatocytes and round spermatids. We constructed vector plasmid expressing siRNAs against Numb or Numb-like, which were transfected to rat testis in vivo. After knocking down of Numb or Numb-like in rat testis resulted in disturbance of differentiation of spermatocytes to spermatids. Our results suggested that Numb and Numb-like regulates differentiation of spermatids by inhibiting Notch signal pathway; Furthermore, it is suggested that Numb and Numb-like acts antagonistically each other.