Figure 2. Loss of p53 does not rescue spermatogenesis in Acd^acd/acd testes. Testes of Acd^acd/acd mice display focal or complete absence of germinal epithelia reminiscent of Sertoli-cell-only syndrome regardless of their genetic p53 status.

(A) Testes of Acd^acd/acd p53^+/+ as well as Acd^acd/acd p53^−/− mice show focal spermatogenesis. Seminiferous tubules with an intact germinal cell epithelium harbored Gcna-positive germ cells. The Sf1-positive interstitial Leydig (black arrows) and Sertoli cell (red arrows) populations did not appear altered in either genotype compared to Acd^+/+ p53^+/+ littermates (scale bars for different levels of magnification: high 100μm, medium 200μm, low 400μm).

(B) Some Acd^acd/acd p53^+/+ and Acd^acd/acd p53^−/− testes completely lack spermatogenesis and germ cells. Only empty seminiferous tubules were present in these testes (scale bars for different levels of magnification: medium 200μm, low 400μm).

(C) Testis weight relative to body weight is severely reduced in both Acd^acd/acd p53^+/+ and Acd^acd/acd p53^−/− mice and therefore independent of their genetic p53 status (Acd^+/+ p53^+/+ vs. Acd^acd/acd p53^−/− p=1×10⁻¹¹, Acd^+/+ p53^+/+ vs. Acd^acd/acd p53^+/+ p=4×10⁻¹², Acd^acd/acd p53^+/+ vs. Acd^acd/acd p53^−/−, p=0.19, 1-way ANOVA and F-test, data shown as mean +/− SD)