Ni Hong
Singapore
Research Article
Retinoic Acid Regulates Germ Gene Transcription In Vitro and Spermatogenesis in Testicular Organ Culture
Author(s): Ni Hong, Mingyou Li, Beiping He and Yunhan HongNi Hong, Mingyou Li, Beiping He and Yunhan Hong
The adult testis is the male reproductive organ that produces sex hormones for sexual behaviours and sperm in a well-controlled process called spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis involves self-renewal and differentiation of the male germ stem cells spermatogonia, culminating in the production of sperm for germline transmission. Retinoic acid (RA) is essential for fate decision and meiosis entry of mammalian germ cells. The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (Mitf) is a newly identified transcriptional activator of germ genes in the fish medaka (Oryzias latipes). Here we report an essential role of RA on Mitf-activated germ gene expression and spermatogenesis. Medaka germ gene promoters DAZ, DND and VAS were found to contain RA-responsive elements and to exhibit little Mitf-activated transcriptional activity in response to RA treatment in both medaka ES cells and male germ ste.. View More»
