AKAP14 is dispensable for mouse fertility

Abstract

A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) constitute a structurally diverse family of scaffold proteins with significant functional relevance. Various AKAP family members localize to distinct subcellular compartments, such as sperm flagella, via their specific domains. In this study, we investigated the physiological function of AKAP14, a potential functional gene for male fertility due to its high expression in human and mouse testicular tissues. We generated Akap14 knockout mice(Akap14^ins/Y) using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to assess the role of AKAP14 in male fertility. Our results demonstrate that Akap14^ins/Y mice exhibit normal fertility, with a comparable testes-to-body weight ratio, epididymal sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology to wild-type male mice. Furthermore, examination of meiotic prophase I progression revealed a consistent distribution of each substage in Akap14^ins/Y testes compared to wild-type testes, indicating that AKAP14 is dispensable for spermatogenesis in mice. In conclusion, despite its high expression level in the testes, AKAP14 depletion does not impact male fertility in mice, suggesting that further in-depth studies of its role in murine spermatogenesis may be unnecessary and could conserve valuable research resources.

In brief

AKAP14 is highly expressed in the testes, but our study using Akap14 knockout mice reveals that it is dispensable for male fertility and spermatogenesis. Despite its expression in testicular tissues, AKAP14 depletion does not impair sperm function or meiotic progression, suggesting no critical role in murine reproductive health.