PUBLICATION

Identification of a Novel Zebrafish Mutant Line that Develops Testicular Germ Cell Tumors

Authors
Shimizu, N., Matsuda, M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-181010-4
Date
2018
Source
Zebrafish   16(1): 15-28 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Shimizu, Nobuyuki
Keywords
spermatogenesis, testicular germ cell tumors, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Fish Diseases/genetics*
  • Fish Diseases/physiopathology
  • Leydig Cells/physiology
  • Male
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/genetics*
  • Sertoli Cells/physiology
  • Spermatogenesis
  • Testicular Neoplasms/genetics*
  • Zebrafish*
PubMed
30300574 Full text @ Zebrafish
Abstract
Testicular tumors are the most common solid malignant tumors in men 20-35 years of age. Although most of testicular tumors are curable, current treatments still fail in 15%-20% of patients. However, insufficient understanding of the molecular basis and lack of animal models limit development of more effective treatments. This study reports the identification of a novel zebrafish mutant line, ns1402, which develops testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). While both male and female ns1402 mutants were fertile at young age, male ns1402 mutants became infertile as early as 9 months of age. This infertility was associated with progressive loss of mature sperm. Failure of spermatogenesis was, at least in part, explained by progressive loss of mature Leydig cells, a source of testosterone that is essential for spermatogenesis. Interestingly, TGCTs in ns1402 mutants contained a large number of Sertoli cells and gene expression profiles of Sertoli cells were altered before loss of mature Leydig cells. This suggests that changes in Sertoli cell properties happened first, followed by loss of mature Leydig cells and failure of spermatogenesis. Taken together, this study emphasizes the importance of cell-cell interactions and cell signaling in the testis for spermatogenesis and tissue homeostasis.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping