Chemical and Genetic Approaches to Identify Caenorhabditis elegans Spermiogenesis-Related Factors

Spermiogenesis is the final phase of spermatogenesis in which round spermatids transform into spermatozoa. However, the molecular basis of spermiogenesis is largely unknown in many species. One of the reasons why we use Caenorhabditis elegans to study spermiogenesis is that spermatids from this organism do not require any hormones and accessory cells in vitro to become spermatozoa. C. elegans spermiogenesis consists of two pivotal events, the pseudopod extension from spermatids and the fusion between the plasma membrane and the intracellular membranous organelles (MOs). In vitro activators such as Pronase (Pron) can induce these two cytological reactions in a simple, chemically defined medium. This advantage enables us to explore compounds that up- and downregulate spermiogenesis, which would be powerful tools for basic research and be the seeds of future drugs for infertility and contraception.