Androgen receptor expressed in three testicular cells and Ar-spermatogenesis was arrest at the zygotene stage

Objective: To investigate the expression and distribution of Androgen Receptor (AR) in all kinds of testicular tissue cells, as well as its effect to reproductive system. Methods: Using immunofluorescence to detect AR expression and distribution in mice testis cells. By constructing Ar knockout mice and observing its reproductive system phenotype to identify how AR affect the reproductive system. Using chromosome spreads to detect which stage the spermatogenesis was arrest in Ar knockout mice. Results: AR have a strong signal in Sertoli cells, Peritubul myoid cells and Leydig cells but without any specific signal in Germ cells. Ar knockout mice changed penis position compared to control and the distance of its perineum became shorter, just seems like fake clitoris. The testicular volume of Ar knockout mice was significantly smaller and the cell species, distribution and proportion within the seminiferous tubules changed significantly. Ar-null mice had large numbers (over 70%) of spermatogenic spermatocytes compared to the wild type mice and had more than 20 centromeres. Conclusion: Ar expressed in testis Sertoli cells, Peritubul myoid cells and Leydig cells except in germ cells. Ar knockout mice appeared feminization of male and its sperm blocked during the early phase of the first meiosis. Spermatogenesis was arrest at the zygotene stage in Ar knockout mice because the homolog pairing was disturbed in Ar-null mice.