The International Journal of Developmental Biology

Int. J. Dev. Biol. 52: 287 - 293 (2008)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.072333ag

Vol 52, Issue 2-3

Special Issue: Developmental Biology in Poland

Gene mapping of sperm quality parameters in recombinant inbred strains of mice

Published: 14 February 2008

Aniela Golas*, Anna Dzieza, Katarzyna Kuzniarz and Jozefa Styrna

Department of Genetics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

Abstract

The aim of this study was to map chromosomal regions containing hypothetical genes responsible for the following parameters of mouse semen quality: (1) the percentage of sperm with abnormal head morphology, (2) the level of dead spermatozoa, (3) the percentage of sperm tails with residual cytoplasmic droplets, and (4) the percentage of sperm with impaired sperm tail membrane integrity. We also analyzed any possible correlations between these parameters. The most appropriate animal model for mapping genes controlling quantitative traits (QTL, quantitative trait locus) is a set of recombinant inbred (RI) strains. The set of RI strains used in this study was derived from crosses between two inbred mouse strains, KE and CBA/Kw, which differ significantly in fertility parameters and gamete quality. We analyzed the four parameters of sperm quality in male mice from two parental strains and from 12 RI strains. The strain distribution pattern (SDP) of 187 polymorphic microsatellite markers was prepared for 20 chromosomes of the mouse genome in 12 RI strains. We correlated the SDP of these markers with the values of sperm quality parameters, using MapManager QTX software (ver. b18). The mapping procedure indicated that the percentage of sperm with abnormal head morphology is controlled by gene(s) located in chromosomal regions 11q24, 11q31 and 6q15.6. There was also a strong correlation between male body weight and the hypothetical gene(s) in chromosomal region 18q47. A detailed analysis of the genes located in these regions enabled us to prepare a list of candidate genes. We discuss the basis of the correlation between the measured parameters.

Keywords

gene mapping, mouse, sperm quality

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