Analysis Tools
reproductive system
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• in contrast to males, female homozygotes are fertile
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• a reduced number of sperm cells is detected in the oviduct after mating females with mutant males, suggesting a sperm maturation defect
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• male homozygotes show a primary defect in epididymal regionalization and differentiation
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• tubules typically formed by tall columnar epithelial cells with long microvilli in the proximal part of the caput ("initial segment") are completely absent and replaced by tubules formed by low columar epithelial cells that resemble cells of the wild-type distal caput
• in contrast, the corpus and cauda epididymis, vas deferens, seminal glands, and testis appear histologically normal
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• the mutant caput epididymis is reduced in size
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• regionalization and terminal differentiation of the proximal epididymal epithelium is severely disrupted
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• male homozygotes appear healthy and show normal mating behavior but are sterile
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• mutant sperm are produced at normal numbers but are completely unable to fertilize in vivo
• however, mutant sperm can fertilize eggs in vitro, and the fertilized eggs develop in vitro or in vivo with no obvious defects
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cellular
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• a reduced number of sperm cells is detected in the oviduct after mating females with mutant males, suggesting a sperm maturation defect
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