Biologist at Brown University have been experimenting with the gene that makes the protein TAF4b. Through their research they have discovered how premature exhaustion of fertility in male mice has been the result of the loss of the gene. The discovery in male mice may help us understand the same loss in fertility in men. According to Brown University biologists, "Protein TAF4b causes a deficit in the number of progenitor cells at an embryonic stage of male mouses reproductive development". The problem is that mice struggle to develop stem cell structure to maintain sperm production to the normal age of two years old. Mice lacking the gene have shown loss of fertility by four months old.
TAF4b protein affects how genes are regulated and transcribed which greatly impacts the reproductive system. Mice with the protein have shown progenitor cells for sperm in male embryos arise normally and have a large variety of spermatogonial stem cells to develop. However, mice lacking the protein have less progenitor cells and stem cells. Although, sperm production occurs at first they cant replenish production. Researchers are still figuring out the reasons why the process fades out rather than continuing at a low rate of production.
The interesting segment of the article is that last year by coincidence a study was done that showed evidence that matters for sperm count and humans have a gene for TAF4b. The research was done on four Turkish brothers who all carried mutation in the TAF4b gene and all resulted in low sperm counts. Even more interesting is that the region of the gene that was mutated in the Freiman's mice is the same exact region affected in the brothers.
In my opinion, I found the information a breakthrough for those who are infertile and could potentially detect the mutation as a teenager. Detection would allow teenagers to freeze there sperm before infertility and use the sperm to have children later in life. Unfortunately, for the Turkish brothers it is to late but, if caught sooner those men possibly at one point were able to produce functional sperm. The research at the Brown University also suggests importance of development at the embryonic stage as well as later in life.
Original Article
http://www.omim.org/entry/601689
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