Fig. 8: Schematic diagram of the Gss function during spermatogenesis in mice.

A Illustration of spermatogenesis in normal mice. B Following Gss knockout in spermatogonia, spermatogenesis was disrupted in 8-month-old mice. C Molecular mechanism of testicular injury caused by Gss deficiency. The deficiency of Gss disrupts the balance of oxidation and anti-oxidant systems in the testis, which increases ROS level and lipid peroxidation, causing ferroptosis in the testis. Ferroptosis caused meiotic arrest and acrosomal dysplasia, eventually leading to oligospermia and teratospermia in mice, and significantly decreased fertility in male mice.