Pubertal down-regulation of Tetraspanin 8 in testicular Sertoli cells is crucial for male fertility

The alarming decline in sperm count has become a global concern in the recent decades. The division and differentiation of male germ cells (Gc) into sperm are governed by Sertoli cells (Sc) upon their functional maturation during puberty. However, the roles of genes regulating pubertal maturation of Sc have not been fully determined. We have observed that Tetraspanin 8 (Tspan8) is downregulated in Sc during puberty in rats. However, there has been no in vivo evidence for a causal link between the down-regulation of Tspan8 expression and the onset of spermatogenesis as yet. To investigate this, we generated a novel transgenic (Tg) rat, in which the natural down-regulation of Tspan8 was prevented specifically in Sc from puberty up to adulthood. Adult Tg male rats showed around 98% reduction in sperm count despite having a similar level of serum testosterone (T) as the controls. Functional maturation of Sc was impaired as indicated by elevated levels of Amh and low levels of Kitig and Claudin I I transcripts. The integrity of the blood testis barrier was compromised due to poor expression of Gja I and Gc apoptosis was discernible. This effect was due to a significant rise in both Mmp7 and phospho P-38 MAPK in Tg rat testis. Taken together, we demonstrated that the natural down-regulation of Tspan8 in Sc during puberty is a prerequisite for establishing male fertility. This study divulges one of the aetiologies of certain forms of idiopathic male infertility where somatic cell defect, but not hormonal deficiency, is responsible for impaired spermatogenesis.