PARENT SESSION
COMPARATIVE REPRODUCTION

Monday, August 2, 2004
10:30 AM–12:30 PM
Buchanan Courtyard

(101) SICKLE CELL DISEASE COMPROMISES REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN ADULT MALES (TRANSGENIC MOUSE MODEL).

Brooks, Cynthia ¹, Jones, Kea ¹, Niaz, Mohammad¹, Aguinaga, Maria del Pilar ¹, Williams, Vincent¹, Archibong, Anthony¹, ¹ Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN

ABSTRACT- This research was conducted to evaluate the factors that contribute to low fecundity among transgenic sickle cell mice. Pubertal male ICR (6wks of age) and transgenic sickle cell mice (strain Tg58xTg98) of comparable age, were assigned to be sacrificed on day (d) 28 and 56 post initiation of the study. A representative sample of ICR and Tg58xTg98 mice were weighed prior to induction of anesthesia on day28 or 56, followed by a mid-ventral laparotomy to permit blood collection for sera by and cardiac puncture. Sera were stored at –20°C until used. Testes and epididymides were subsequently recovered and weighed and cauda epididymides were excised and stored sperm recovered for the assessment of sperm density and motility in Whitten′s medium (Whitten and Biggers, 1968; J Reprod Fertil 17:399). Transgenic male mice were less thrifty, based on monthly weight gains than their ICR counterparts (d28 body weight [bwt], 30.93 + 0.8, Tg58xTg98 vs 33.5 + 0.9g, ICR; d56 bwt, 31.71 + 0.7, Tg58xTg98, vs 39.43 + 0.3g, ICR; P<0.05). Testis weight was lower among Tg58xTg98 strain of mice than their ICR counterparts (d28 testis wt [twt], 0.15 + 0.01, Tg58xTg98 vs 0.25 + 0.01, ICR; d56 twt 0.15 + 0.008, Tg58xTg98 vs , 0.25 + 0.01, ICR; P<0.025). Furthermore, circulating testosterone concentrations were lower (P<0.05) among Tg58xTg98 vs ICR mice. Even though epididymal weights were similar between the two strains of mice, reduced stored sperm density and progressive motility were observed among Tg58xTg98 strain of mice (d28 sperm density [sd], 14 + 3.6; d56, 13 + 2.9 x 106 cells; d28 sperm progressive motility [spm], 39 + 8.7; d56 spm, 41 + 4.6%) compared with ICR mice (d28 sd, 40.3 + 1.9; d56 sd, 36.7 + 1.5 x 106 cells; d28 spm, 65.13 + 2.3; d56 spm, 63.3 + 2.1%), respectively. Inadequate testis and epididymal function contributes to reduced fecundity among Tg58xTg98. This project was supported by HD020419-19S1, 5KO1-HL003141, and 1U54 HD44315-01.

KEY WORDS: Testis, Sperm, Sickle Cell, Testosterone