INDIRECT SERTOLI CELL-MEDIATED ABLATION OF GERM CELLS IN MICE EXPRESSING THE INHIBIN-ALPHA PROMOTER/HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS THYMIDINE KINASE TRANSGENE

Abstract In the present study, we describe a novel mouse model for inducible germ cell ablation. The mice express herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) under the inhibin-α subunit promoter (Inhα). When adult transgenic (TG) mice were treated with famciclovir (FCV) for 4 wk, their spermatogenesis was totally abolished, with only Sertoli cells and few spermatids remaining in the seminiferous tubules. However, testicular steroidogenesis was not affected. Shorter treatment periods allowed us to follow up the progression of germ cell death: After 3 days, spermatogonia and preleptotene spermatocytes were no longer present. After a 1-wk treatment, spermatogonia, preleptotene, and zygotene spermatocytes were missing and the amount of pachytene spermatocytes was decreased. After a 2-wk treatment, round and elongating spermatids were present. During the third week, round spermatids were lost and, finally, after a 4-wk treatment, only Sertoli cells and few spermatids were present. Interestingly, the transge...