Ingénierie génétique et spermatogenèse

The knowledge of mammal spermatogenesis takes great advantage of the powerful method of functional analysis by genetic engineering. This method allows to study the factors implicated in meiosis depending on the sex and their possible relationships with tumorigenesis and apoptosis. It can be distinguished the factors possibly involved in sterilities and those that can be compensated by genetic redundancy. The mechanisms of spermiogenesis can be dissected, as can be those of the heat shock response and the hemato-testicular barrier. Data extent to the biology of reproduction at various levels in both sexes and to the question of sterility-associated diseases. Knock-out mice also show the importance of the male germ cell genotype/phenotype dissociation in hemizygous. As an experimental approach, the method knows some limitations such as the differences between species in the function and expression of homologous genes. The unexpected failures of spermatogenesis found in many cases supports the notion that spermatogenesis is very sensitive to genetic damages and show that many genes have to be investigated.