Spermatogenesis Program:

Michael Holland, Kate Loveland, David Jans, Moira O'Bryan, David De Krester

Subprogram 1: ENU mouse mutagenesis program

Aims

The identification and characterisation of key regulators of male fertility using ENU mutagenized mouse lines.

Specific experimental aims:

1. Screen ENU mutagenized mouse lines for testicular, epididymal and fertilisation-mediated male infertility using both histological analysis and breeding experiments.
2. Establish and implement a reverse genetics means of identifying mouse models of fertility-related gene dysfunction. This will be done by screening gDNA from ENU mutagenized mouse lines for mutations in fertility-related genes using DHPLC and sequencing.

Significance

One in twenty Australian males suffers from some level of sub-fertility and in a vast majority of men the cause of their condition is unknown. These ENU mutagenesis studies are designed to generate animal models in which the genetic basis of male infertility can be elucidated.

Subprogram 2: Developmental Switches in Spermatogenesis

Aims

The initial objective of this project is to establish a database of information regarding the key importin candidates and target proteins that are likely to mediate developmental switches in spermatogenesis.

Significance

Analysis of the molecular mechanisms that drive germ cell differentiation will not only contribute to our fundamental understanding of 'genome-to-phenome' dynamics during spermatogenesis, but will also provide a platform from which novel approaches towards the regulation of male fertility can be considered.