Figure 1.

Germ cell-specific Srsf1 knockout results in complete male infertility. (A) Representative images of localization of SRSF1 in the control and Srsf1^cKO testes of 8-week-old mice. The DNA was stained with DAPI, and SRSF1 (red) and MVH (green) were stained with corresponding antibodies. Scale bar: (top) 50 μm; (bottom) 20 μm. (B) Schematic diagram of deletion of Srsf1 exons 2, 3 and 4 and generation of Srsf1 Δ allele by Stra8- Cre-mediated recombination in male germ cells. (C) Western blotting analysis of SRSF1 protein in Srsf1^WT and Srsf1^cKO total testes of 8-week-old mice. β-actin was detected as an internal control. (D) The relative intensity of SRSF1/actin. β-actin was detected as an internal control. (E) Quantitative RT-PCR analyses showing Srsf1 mRNA level was decreased. β-actin was used as the internal control. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. P<0.05(*), 0.01(**) or 0.001(***). (F) Pregnancy rates (%) of plugged wild-type females after mating with Srsf1^WT and Srsf1^cKO 8-week-old males. (G) Average litter size of plugged wild-type females after mating with Srsf1^WT and Srsf1^cKO 8-week-old males. For this part, at least 3 mice (8-week-old) of each genotype were used for the analysis. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. P<0.05(*), 0.01(**) or 0.001(***).