{
  "abstract": "Infertility affects approximately 10%–20% of couples worldwide, with male factors accounting for roughly half of all cases. Teratozoospermia, defined by the occurrence of abnormally shaped sperm, is a significant contributor to male infertility. Here, by analyzing a publicly available RNA array dataset comparing teratozoospermia patients and normal controls, we uncovered disrupted adherens junction (AJ)-associated signaling and defective spermatogenesis within germ cells of teratozoospermia patients. In adherens junctions (AJs), α-catenin (CTNNA1) anchors the cadherin-catenin complex to the actin cytoskeleton and regulates actin organization, but its role in germ cell development and sperm function remains unknown. We generated a germ cell-specific Ctnna1 conditional knockout mouse model (Ctnna1cKO). Homozygous Ctnna1-deficient mice exhibited male infertility with abnormal structure and function of spermatozoa. Single-cell RNA sequencing of control and Ctnna1cKO testes revealed an accumulation of spermatogonia with impaired differentiation and abnormal acrosome structure in Ctnna1-deficient mice, likely caused by disrupted splicing and meiotic processes through dysregulated vinculin. Additionally, loss of α-catenin disrupted both direct and indirect interactions between spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells, as evidenced by N-cadherin internalization that mediates their adhesion and by reduced Cyclophilin A/CD147 paracrine signaling essential for spermatogenesis. Mechanistically, loss of α-catenin results in disorganization of the α-catenin/vinculin/N-cadherin complex, leading to defective cell-cell interactions and impairment of spermatogenesis. Collectively, our study establishes α-catenin as a critical regulator of spermatogenesis and germ cell development and highlights its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for male infertility, particularly teratozoospermia.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Genetic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Medical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China",
    "Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Integrated TCM & Western Medicine Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China",
    "Sichuan-Chongqing Joint Key Laboratory of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing 401329, China",
    "Department of Ophthalmology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Xu Ha"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Shu-Jin Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Ru-Lian Zhao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Lan-Yao Yang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yun-Qi He"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Li Peng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Li-Ting Lv"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Xian-Jun Zhu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Mu Yang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Zheng-Lin Yang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7be4kkhwf0h8s.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2025.530",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13720421/",
  "id": "7be4kkhwf0h8s",
  "issns": [
    "2095-8137"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2025.530",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2743|Sperm and Testicular Function"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7136527364",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13720421",
  "pmid": "42635077",
  "published": "2026-09-18",
  "publisher": "Editorial Office of Zoological Research, Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7be4kkhwf0h8s.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T12:21:18Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13720421",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2025.530"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2743|Sperm and Testicular Function",
      "subfield": "reproductive-child"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Loss of α-catenin in germ cells impairs spermatogenesis and flagellar function associated with teratozoospermia",
  "title_text": "Loss of α-catenin in germ cells impairs spermatogenesis and flagellar function associated with teratozoospermia",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-03T12:21:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7be4kkhwf0h8s",
  "venue": "Zoological Research",
  "versions": []
}