Ectopic Expression of Human Herpesvirus 1 Thymidine Kinase Induces Male Infertility
( Herpesviridae )
Publication series ： Herpesviridae
Author： Mo Chen Li‐yi Cai Takako Kato and Yukio Kato
Publisher： IntechOpen
Publication year： 2016
E-ISBN: INT6192364390
P-ISBN(Paperback): 9789535126102
P-ISBN(Hardback): 9789535126119
Subject： R18 Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine;R51 infectious diseases
Keyword： 传染病,流行病学与防疫
Language： ENG
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Ectopic Expression of Human Herpesvirus 1 Thymidine Kinase Induces Male Infertility
Description
The herpesvirus family comprises several widespread infectious pathogens. They infect a variety of animal hosts, including humans and cause complex clinical outcomes. Recently, the possible correlation between genital infection by human herpesviruses (HHVs) and male infertility has attracted considerable attention. In this chaper, we investigated the mechanism of HHV‐1‐induced infertility in transgenic (Tg) rats and its possible correlation with infertility in human males. Ectopic expression of HHV‐1 thymidine kinase (TK) in the testis of Tg rats increased male infertility. In addition, truncated TK proteins were found in postmeiotic spermatids of Tg rat testis, leading to progressive degeneration of germ cells and vacuolization of the seminiferous epithelium. These findings suggest the possibility that a similar process occurs within HHV‐infected human germ cells.
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