Male mice lacking ADAMTS-16 are fertile but exhibit testes of reduced weight

Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 20;9(1):17195. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53900-0.

Abstract

Adamts16 encodes a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs, 16, a member of a family of multi-domain, zinc-binding proteinases. ADAMTS-16 is implicated in a number of pathological conditions, including hypertension, cancer and osteoarthritis. A large number of observations, including a recent report of human ADAMTS16 variants in cases of 46,XY disorders/differences of sex development (DSD), also implicate this gene in human testis determination. We used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to generate a loss-of-function allele in the mouse in order to examine whether ADAMTS-16 functions in mouse testis determination or testicular function. Male mice lacking Adamts16 on the C57BL/6N background undergo normal testis determination in the fetal period. However, adult homozygotes have an average testis weight that is around 10% lower than age-matched controls. Cohorts of mutant males tested at 3-months and 6-months of age were fertile. We conclude that ADAMTS-16 is not required for testis determination or male fertility in mice. We discuss these phenotypic data and their significance for our understanding of ADAMTS-16 function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ADAMTS Proteins / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Infertility, Male / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Organ Size
  • Testis / anatomy & histology*
  • Testis / embryology

Substances

  • ADAMTS Proteins
  • ADAMTS16 protein, mouse