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Besides the established central role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (Parp-1) and Parp-2 in the maintenance of genomic integrity, accumulating evidence indicates that poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation may modulate epigenetic modifications under physiological conditions. Here, we provide in vivo evidence for the pleiotropic involvement of Parp-2 in both meiotic and postmeiotic processes. We show that Parp-2-deficient mice exhibit severely impaired spermatogenesis, with a defect in prophase of meiosis I characterized by massive apoptosis at pachytene and metaphase I stages. Although Parp-2(-/-) spermatocytes exhibit normal telomere dynamics and normal chromosome synapsis, they display defective meiotic sex chromosome inactivation associated with derailed regulation of histone acetylation and methylation and up-regulated X- and Y-linked gene expression. Furthermore, a drastically reduced number of crossover-associated Mlh1 foci are associated with chromosome missegregation at metaphase I. Moreover, Parp-2(-/-) spermatids are severely compromised in differentiation and exhibit a marked delay in nuclear elongation. Altogether, our findings indicate that, in addition to its well known role in DNA repair, Parp-2 exerts essential functions during meiosis I and haploid gamete differentiation.

The cell cycle-regulated Aurora-B kinase is a chromosomal passenger protein that is implicated in fundamental mitotic events, including chromosome alignment and segregation and spindle checkpoint function. Aurora-B phosphorylates serine 10 of histone H3, a function that has been associated with mitotic chromatin condensation. We find that activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) 1 by DNA damage results in a rapid block of H3 phosphorylation. PARP-1 is a NAD(+)-dependent enzyme that plays a multifunctional role in DNA damage detection and repair and maintenance of genomic stability. Here, we show that Aurora-B physically and specifically associates with the BRCT (BRCA-1 C-terminal) domain of PARP-1. Aurora-B becomes highly poly(ADP-ribosyl)ated in response to DNA damage, a modification that leads to a striking inhibition of its kinase activity. The highly similar Aurora-A kinase is not regulated by PARP-1. We propose that the specific inhibition of Aurora-B kinase activity by PARP-1 contributes to the physiological response to DNA damage.

ACT [activator of cAMP-responsive element modulator (CREM) in testis] is a LIM-only protein that interacts with transcription factor CREM in postmeiotic male germ cells and enhances CREM-dependent transcription. CREM regulates many crucial genes required for spermatid maturation, and targeted mutation of the Crem gene in the mouse germ-line blocks spermatogenesis. Here we report the phenotype of mice in which targeted disruption of the act gene was obtained by homologous recombination. Whereas the seminiferous tubules of the act(-/-) mice contain all of the developmental stages of germ cells and the mice are fertile, the amount of mature sperm in the epididymis is drastically reduced. The residual sperm display severe abnormalities, including fully folded tails and aberrant head shapes. These results indicate that numerous postmeiotic genes under CREM control require the coactivator function of ACT. Thus, the fine-tuning of sperm development is achieved by the coordinated action of two transcriptional regulators.

A number of recessive autosomal genes cause male infertility. Male mice homozygous for the blind-sterile (bs/bs) and quaking-sterile (qk/qk) gene mutations are sterile, because they either do not produce any spermatozoa or produce only a few abnormal spermatozoa. Mice lacking the cyclic AMP responsive-element modulator gene are sterile due to failure of spermiogenesis. All these mice, however, are able to produce fertile offspring when their spermatozoa or round spermatids are injected into oocytes of normal females. This implies that genetic and epigenetic elements necessary for syngamy and embryonic development are established in round spermatids and spermatozoa of these animals, even though their spermatogenic cells are destined to die (bs/bs and qk/qk) or are programmed to undergo apoptosis (cyclic AMP responsive-element modulator-null) without becoming functional spermatozoa.

Pituitary gonadotropins follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone stimulate the gonads by regulating germ cell proliferation and differentiation. FSH receptors (FSH-Rs) are localized to testicular Sertoli cells and ovarian granulosa cells and are coupled to activation of the adenylyl cyclase and other signaling pathways. Activation of FSH-Rs is considered essential for folliculogenesis in the female and spermatogenesis in the male. We have generated mice lacking FSH-R by homologous recombination. FSH-R-deficient males are fertile but display small testes and partial spermatogenic failure. Thus, although FSH signaling is not essential for initiating spermatogenesis, it appears to be required for adequate viability and motility of the sperms. FSH-R-deficient females display thin uteri and small ovaries and are sterile because of a block in folliculogenesis before antral follicle formation. Although the expression of marker genes is only moderately altered in FSH-R -/- mice, drastic sex-specific changes are observed in the levels of various hormones. The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland in females is enlarged and reveals a larger number of FSH- and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-positive cells. The phenotype of FSH-R -/- mice is reminiscent of human hypergonadotropic ovarian dysgenesis and infertility.