Figure 1. Deletion of the Magea gene cluster resulted in smaller testes.

(A) Schematic representation of the wild-type Magea allele, the upstream (1^st) and downstream (2^nd) targeting vector, the single targeted allele, double targeted allele and the Magea-null allele. Six Magea genes are represented by open boxes in which each gene name is indicated (A1, Magea1; A2, Magea2; A3, Magea3; A5, Magea5; A6, Magea6; A8, Magea8. Probes (solid black line) and primers (arrow mark) for detecting homologous recombination via Southern blot and PCR analysis are denoted. EcoRI (E) and PstI (P) restriction enzyme sites are indicated. loxp sites (blank triangles), frt sites (open triangles) and the 5′ and 3′ recombination arms of targeting vectors are shown. (B) The testes of Magea^−/Y mice were smaller than those of wild-type mice at the age of 3 months. Scale bar, 2 mm. (C) Testis weights of Magea^−/Y and wild-type littermates were determined at the postnatal ages of 12 d (P12), 20 d (P20), 30 d (P30), 2 months (2 M), 3 months (3 M), 5 months (5 M), 11 months (11 M) and 25 months (25 M). N = 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 6, 4 and 5 for P12, P20, P30, 2 M, 3 M, 5 M, 11 M and 25 M, respectively. ***p < 0.001; **p < 0.01; *p < 0.05.