OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of the CMTM2 gene in regulating testicular spermatogenesis in the mouse model of experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO). METHODS: We constructed an EAO model in CMTM2 knockout and wild-type (WT) mice, studied the immunological reproductive phenotype and examined the number, morphology and activity of the sperm generated in the CMTM2 knockout mice. We assessed the infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes in the testis tissue sections and Leydig cells, and determined the expression levels of CMTM2 in the homozygous knockout (KO), heterozygous and WT mice by RT-PCR, Western blot and Northern blot. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in the long testicular axis and the number of sperm generated between the KO and WT mice after reaching adulthood (P<0.05). The total numbers of macrophages and lymphocytes were markedly increased, while sperm motility and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm remarkably decreased in the testis of the KO mouse model compared with those in the WT mouse model of EAO. CONCLUSION The CMTM2 gene, as a regulator of spermatogenesis, is highly expressed in adult male mice and plays an important role in the maintenance of spermatogenesis. Moreover, decreased expression products of the CMTM2 gene may weaken spermatogenesis under chronic inflammation conditions.
Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Orchitis/genetics* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Testis/metabolism* ; Autoimmune Diseases/genetics* ; Mice, Knockout ; MARVEL Domain-Containing Proteins/genetics*