Fig. 2: Phenotypic effects of systemic versus Sertoli cell-specific suppression of RANKL. | Nature Communications

Fig. 2: Phenotypic effects of systemic versus Sertoli cell-specific suppression of RANKL.

From: RANKL regulates male reproductive function

Fig. 2: Phenotypic effects of systemic versus Sertoli cell-specific suppression of RANKL.The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

a Rosa reporter expression in Rankl fl/fl, Sertoli specific (AMHCre;Ranklfl/fl, SC-Rankl), and global (VasaCre;Ranklfl/fl, Rankl −/−) RANKL-deficient mice. b, c Expression of RANKL at mRNA and protein level in Rankl fl/fl (blue), SC-Rankl (red), and Rankl −/− (green) mice (b, fl/fl vs. SC: p = 0.923, fl/fl vs. −/−: p = 0.004). d Testicular and epididymal weight of Rankl fl/fl, SC-Rankl, and Rankl −/− mice, (left panel; p = 0.003, p = 0.159, right panel; p = 0.008, p = 0.033). e Sperm count and ABC sperm motility of Rankl fl/fl, SC-Rankl, and Rankl −/− mice, (left panel; p = 0.013, p = 0.107). f Morphology and expression of Sertoli cell marker GATA-4 in testis of Rankl fl/fl, SC-Rankl, and Rankl −/− mice. Counterstaining with Mayer’s hematoxylin. Scale bars correspond to 50 μm. g Gene expression of Inhibin B, Amh, Rank, and Opg in Rankl fl/fl, SC-Rankl, and Rankl −/− mice, (top right panel; p = 0.01, p = 0.02, bottom right panel; p = 0.07, p = 0.04). h Fertility study of Rankl fl/fl, SC-Rankl, and Rankl −/− male mice exposed to three healthy females for 5 days, (left panel; p = 0.02, middle panel; p = 0.01). i Serum testosterone (nmol/L) in Rankl fl/fl, SC-Rankl, and Rankl −/− mice. j Fertility study of Rankl fl/fl, SC-Rankl, and Rankl −/− mice after OPG treatment (1 mg/kg x 2 weekly for 2 weeks), (left panel; p = 0.02, middle panel; p = 0.02, p = 0.01, right panel; p = 0.005). The OPG-treated Rankl −/− mice did not give birth to pups. Note, y-axes do not intersect x-axes at 0 (d). Data are presented individually and as mean ± SEM, with n (Rankl fl/fl / SC-Rankl / Rankl −/−) = 12/8/12 (b), n (= 14/6/12 (d), n = 6/9/9 (left panel, e), n = 6/5/6 (right panel, e), n = 4–6 (f), n = 12/8/8 (top left panel, g), n = 7/6/8 (top right, bottom left and right panels, g), n (male/female) = 6/18 (Rankl fl/fl) and n = 4/12 (SC-Rankl) and n = 4/12 (Rankl −/−) for all panels (h), n = 8 (i), n (male/female) = 3/9 (Rankl fl/fl + OPG) and n = 4/12 (SC-Rankl + OPG) and n = 2/6 (Rankl −/− + OPG) (j). Statistical tests: one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Dunnett’s test to adjust for multiple comparisons (b, d, e, g, h (middle panel), j (middle and right panels)) or Pearson chi square test (h (left panel), j (left panel)) with *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.

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