Essential Role of the p110β Subunit of Phosphoinositide 3-OH Kinase in Male Fertility

• DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e09-08-0744
• Publication Date: 2010-01-07T03:19:34Z
• Authors: Elisa Ciraolo; Fulvio Morello; Robin M. Hobbs; Frieder Wolf; Romina Marone; Manuela Iezzi; Xiaoyun Lu; Giulio Mengozzi; Fiorella Altruda; Giovanni Sorba; Kaomei Guan; Pier Paolo Pandolfi; Matthias P. Wymann; Emilio Hirsch
• Keywords: P110α; Phosphoinositide 3-kinase

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) are key molecular players in male fertility. However, the specific roles of different p110 PI3K catalytic subunits within spermatogenic lineage have not been characterized so far. Herein, we report that mice expressing a catalytically inactive p110beta develop testicular hypotrophy and impaired spermatogenesis, leading to phenotype oligo-azoospermia defective The examination testes from p110beta-defective tubules demonstrates widespread loss cells, due proliferation survival pre- postmeiotic cells. In particular, is crucially needed c-Kit-mediated spermatogonial expansion, as c-Kit-positive cells lost adult testis activation Akt by SCF blocked inhibitor. These data establish isoform c-Kit required during thus opening way new treatments for positive cancers.