Viable offspring obtained from Prm1-deficient sperm in mice

Sci Rep. 2016 Jun 2:6:27409. doi: 10.1038/srep27409.

Abstract

Protamines are expressed in the spermatid nucleus and allow denser packaging of DNA compared with histones. Disruption of the coding sequence of one allele of either protamine 1 (Prm1) or Prm2 results in failure to produce offspring, although sperm with disrupted Prm1 or Prm2 alleles are produced. Here, we produced Prm1-deficient female chimeric mice carrying Prm1-deficient oocytes. These mice successfully produced Prm1(+/-) male mice. Healthy Prm1(+/-) offspring were then produced by transferring blastocysts obtained via in vitro fertilization using zona-free oocytes and sperm from Prm1(+/-) mice. This result suggests that sperm lacking Prm1 can generate offspring despite being abnormally shaped and having destabilised DNA, decondensed chromatin and a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential. Nevertheless, these mice showed little derangement of expression profiles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blastomeres / metabolism
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Embryo Transfer / methods
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro / methods
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / physiology
  • Mice
  • Oocytes / metabolism
  • Protamines / metabolism*
  • Spermatids / metabolism
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism*

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Histones
  • Prm1 protein, mouse
  • Protamines
  • DNA