Molecular basis and clinical significance of moderately low temperature environment in the mammalian testis

虽然细胞生长和基因表达在较低的温度下通常受到抑制，但哺乳动物雄性生殖细胞在中等低温下(如32摄氏度)比体腔温度更好地增殖和分化。这种现象的原因和生物学意义尚不清楚。在这项研究中，我们阐明了调节CIRP表达的分子机制，CIRP是一种在中等低温下特异诱导的冷休克蛋白。我们进一步培育了CIRP基因敲除小鼠，并证明了CIRP基因参与了精子发生。

Although the cell growth and gene expression are generally suppressed at lower temperatures, mammalian male germ cells proliferate and differentiate better at moderately low temperatures such as 32 degree C than body cavity temperature. The reasons for and biological significance of this phenomenon is unknown. We clarified in this study the molecular mechanism that regulates the expression of Cirp, the cold shock protein specifically induced at moderately low temperatures. We further produced cirp-knockout mice, and demonstrated the involvement of Cirp in spermatogenesis.