Successful pregnancy may only need three genes on the male Y chromosome

Published in the international journal PLoS Genetics of a research report, researchers from the University of Hawaii Institute of biological origin by studying the Y chromosome genes uncovered the body of the new features; article by the researchers found that male mice only need 3 genes from the Y chromosome sperm can be manufactured, through microinjection (intracytoplasmic sperm injection, ICSI) with the egg after fertilization, and produce offspring.

Two years ago, the research team successfully obtained only male mice of the body 2 Y chromosome gene bred offspring of these two genes, called testis determining child Sry and spermatogonial proliferation factor Eif2s3y, these male mice do not produce sperm to completion of the fertilization process, the researchers had to use the body of mice immature precursor cells - sperm cells and a cytoplasmic sperm injection, called a spherical (round spermatid injections, ROSI) to study. The researchers believe that this technology called ROSI is an experimental step, but it has not been recommended as a treatment for male infertility treatments, but ICSI was widely used in the world, the use of ICSI technique bred tens annually million newborns.

Researchers believe that gene Y chromosome probably mainly responsible for the sperm cells into sperm; and with the results of a joint study from France, Britain and other multinational research staff, researchers hypothesize that a key gene on the Y chromosome may be Zfy2 ( encoding a zinc finger protein 2), then they will Zfy2 added to by transgenic methods already exist but Sry and Eif2s3y transgenic male mice deletion of the Y chromosome in the body, results showed that the three mouse Y chromosome carries genes will produce sperm, these male mice were not able to produce their own sperm, because of its low sperm levels. But when the researchers harvested sperm by the testes of mice which were injected into the egg can be a successful pregnancy, the embryo into a surrogate female mouse body after birth rate of young mice, as compared to the control group in terms of (carrying the normal Y mouse chromosomes).

Researchers Ward noted that the three Y chromosome-derived gene may be enough to help the body to produce functional sperm and then promote fertilization, ICSI technique is often used in human infertility therapy, this study found that the round sperm cells into sperm It is a critical process, but perhaps mediated gene Zfy2 an important regulator of the process, including sperm maturation and function of play.