Pyruvate kinase M in germ cells is essential for sperm motility and male fertility but not spermatogenesis  

作　　者：Gao-Qing Qian Xiao-Chen Wang Xi Zhang Bin Shen Qiang Liu 

机构地区：[1]State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health,Nanjing Medical University,Nanjing 211166,China [2]Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine,Department of Histoembryology,Genetics and Developmental Biology,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,Shanghai 200025,China [3]State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology,Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology,Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science,Chinese Academy of Sciences,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Shanghai 200031,China

出　　处：《Asian Journal of Andrology》2024年第2期212-219,共8页亚洲男性学杂志（英文版）

基　　金：supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81571488 and No.81771637).

摘　　要：Male germ cells employ specific metabolic pathways throughout their developmental stages.In a previous study,we discovered heightened expression of pyruvate kinase M(PKM),a pivotal glycolytic enzyme,in spermatogonia and spermatids.To gain deeper insights into PKM's roles in spermatogenesis,sperm function,and male fertility,we engineered a conditional-knockout mouse model(Pkm-vkO mice)to selectively disrupt the Pkm gene within germ cells.Despite maintaining regular testicular histology and sperm morphology,the male Pkm-vko mice were infertility,characterized by significant impairments in sperm motility and adenosine triphosphate(ATP)generation.In addition,Pkm-null spermatozoa exhibited similar deficits in protein tyrosine phosphorylation linked to capacitation,as well as compromised performance in in vitro fertilization experiments.To conclude,PKM's presence is not obligatory for the entirety of spermatogenesis in male germ cells;however,it emerges as a critical factor influencing sperm motility and overall male fertility.

关 键 词：GLYCOLYSIS male fertility pyruvate kinase M sperm motility SPERMATOGENESIS 

分 类 号：R698.2[医药卫生—泌尿科学]