从D-box突变到精子异常的发展途径
最后,研究人员想有没有什么办法能阻止这一“悲剧”的发生呢?于是他们尝试了将能和Miwi蛋白结合的,RNF8上的一段RNF8-N肽用载体转进了小鼠体内。结果显示,RNF8-N肽顺利地与精子中“滞留”的Miwi蛋白结合,而其余的RNF8就“逃过一劫”,像正常发育时一样进入了精子细胞核中,由此产生的精子形态恢复了正常,而且研究人员还观察到了它们能正常地“游动”。也就是说,这种方法“拯救”了无精症小鼠!
总的来说,这项研究为我们揭示了由Piwi基因突变到精子异常型不育的“蝴蝶效应”,而且还验证了一种“干预手段”,尽管这一手段还只是在小鼠体内适用。我们也希望研究能早日进入临床,造福广大有困扰的夫妻!
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