AAV8-Lhcgr rescues spermatogenesis in pubertal Lhcgr−/− mice
(A) Representative light micrographs of testis sections from Lhcgr+/+ mice, Lhcgr+/− mice, and Lhcgr−/− mice injected with PBS or AAV8-Lhcgr (n = 3). Scale bar: 500 μm. Arrowheads indicate full spermatogenesis in testes.
(B) Histological analysis of cauda epididymis collected from Lhcgr+/+ mice, Lhcgr+/− mice, and Lhcgr−/− mice injected with PBS or AAV8-Lhcgr (n = 3). Stars indicate spermatozoa in the cauda epididymis. Scale bar: 100 μm.
(C) Representative light micrographs of sperm obtained from the cauda epididymis of Lhcgr+/+ mice (n = 5), Lhcgr+/− mice (n = 4), and Lhcgr−/− mice injected with PBS (n = 4) or AAV8-Lhcgr (n = 4). Scale bar: 200 μm.
(D–F) The sperm counts (D), proportions of sperm with motility (E), and progressive motility (F) were analyzed (Lhcgr+/+ mice [n = 5], Lhcgr+/− mice [n = 4], and Lhcgr−/− mice injected with PBS [n = 4] or AAV8-Lhcgr [n = 4]). Data are represented by boxplots, and whiskers show the minimum to maximum values. ∗p < 0.05; ∗∗∗p < 0.001; ns, not significant.