Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2) is involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis. Studies with the knock-out model

CLARA MARÍN-BRIGGILER; LUSTIG LIVIA; RUMPEL REGINA; GROTHE CLAUDIA; BRANDES GUDRUN; SAUCEDO LUCIA; VAZQUES-LEVIN MONICA; C. SOBARZO

New Hampshire

Conferencia; Gordon Research Conference: Fertilization and activation of development. Holderness; 2017

Previous studies from our laboratory have shown the presence of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2) and its receptors (FGFRs) in human testis and sperm, and results suggest that this system is involved in the regulation of human spermatogenesis and sperm motility (Saucedo et al, PLOS One 10(5):e0127297. 2015; Garbarino Azúa et al, in press in Andrology). The aim of the present study was to further analyze the role of FGF2 in the maintenance of sperm physiology using FGF2 knock-out (KO) mice. Our results have shown that in wild type (WT) animals, FGF2 is expressed in all germ cells of the seminiferous epithelium, with higher expression in spermatids and sperm. In epididymal sperm, the protein was immunolocalized in the flagellum and acrosomal region. Evaluation of fertility of FGF2 KO males showed similar time to delivery, litter size and pups weight compared to the WT mice. Analysis of cauda epididymal sperm from KO animals indicated no differences in sperm motility, but a significant increase (P