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Generation and Application of Male Mice with Specific Expression of Green Fluorescent Protein in Germ Cells

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Abstract

Purpose

The study aimed to generate a mouse line with green fluorescent protein (GFP) specifically expressed in male germ cells to assess testicular toxicity.

Procedures

The mouse line with GFP specifically expressed in male germ cells was generated by mating a germ cell-specific transgenic Cre male mouse with a double-fluorescent reporter female mouse using Cre/loxP. The mouse line was administered ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) by oral gavage. Then, the green fluorescence intensity in the testes was used as an indicator to examine the potential for testicular toxicity testing by molecular biology, histopathology, and in vivo imaging techniques.

Results

Specific testicular GFP expression was observed in mice. GFP was mainly expressed in the germ cell lineage and concentrated in secondary spermatocytes/spermatocytes and spermatozoa. After administration of EGME, at the organ level, the green fluorescent intensity of the testes was decreased by 11 days and had disappeared by 34 days. Frozen testicular sections stained with DAPI showed significantly decreased green fluorescence in secondary spermatocytes and sperm cells. These observations were consistent with the testis weight and results of testicular histopathology.

Conclusions

With the application of in vivo imaging becoming popular, this mouse line with GFP specifically expressed in the male germ cells may have some advantages for the study of reproductive toxicity.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the staff who operated the reflecting fluorescence imaging system at the College of Engineering of Peking University for their excellent technical assistance in small animal imaging. This work was supported by the Chinese National Science Equipment Development Program (No. 2011YQ030114).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory Animal Center, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, China

    Zhiru Wang, Jun Li, Dong Cao & Desheng Zhu

  2. School of Public Health, Jilin University, 1163 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China

    Zhiru Wang & Xiaomei Liu

Authors
  1. Zhiru Wang
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  2. Jun Li
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  3. Dong Cao
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  4. Xiaomei Liu
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  5. Desheng Zhu
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xiaomei Liu or Desheng Zhu.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Wang, Z., Li, J., Cao, D. et al. Generation and Application of Male Mice with Specific Expression of Green Fluorescent Protein in Germ Cells. Mol Imaging Biol 18, 659–666 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-016-0947-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-016-0947-8

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