Role of GIP signaling in the testes

What is it about?

We identified GIP receptor (Gipr) expression in mouse spermatids. Microarray analysis revealed that pregnancy-specific glycoprotein 17 (Psg17), a potential CD9-binding partner, was significantly decreased in GIP receptor-knockout (Gipr–/–) testes. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored PSG17 was expressed on the surface of acrosome-reacted sperm, and Gipr–/– sperm led to a lower fertilization rate in vitro, compared to that of Gipr+/+ sperm, both in the absence and presence of the zona pellucida. Plasma GIP concentrations and Psg17 mRNA were immediately increased in the testis after a single meal, whereas ingestion of a chronic high fat diet markedly decreased Gipr and Psg17 mRNA.

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