Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42176245›Full record

ArticleBiology of reproduction2026

Rat DCST1 and DCST2 are essential for sperm-egg fusion†.

Motochika Nakano, Katsuma Yamaga, Reika Uriu, Ayumu Taira, Keisuke Masuda, Kimi Araki, Ayako Isotani, Shunsuke Yuri, Toru Takeo, Masahito Ikawa and 1 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Biology of reproduction, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Motochika NakanoDivision of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.ORCID 0009-0009-3935-6788
Katsuma YamagaDivision of Reproductive Engineering, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
Reika UriuDivision of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.ORCID 0009-0000-9903-2595
Ayumu TairaDivision of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-0703-1104
Keisuke MasudaDivision of Reproductive Engineering, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
Kimi ArakiDivision of Developmental Genetics, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
Ayako IsotaniLife Science Collaboration Center (LiSCo), Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-4720-2318
Shunsuke YuriLife Science Collaboration Center (LiSCo), Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara, Japan.
Toru TakeoDivision of Reproductive Engineering, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-8103-651X
Masahito IkawaDepartment of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka, Osaka, Japan.ORCID 0000-0001-9859-6217
Taichi NodaDivision of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.ORCID 0000-0003-0260-7861

Funding

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development JP23jf0126001Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 21H05033Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 22H04922Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 23K20043Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 25H01353Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 25K02196Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 25KJ1979JST/CREST JPMJCR21N1JST/PRESTO JPMJPR2148Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and TechnologyOU Master Plan Implementation Project promoted under Osaka UniversityTakeda Science Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Physiological functions of fertilization-related genes in male fertility differ among species. The sperm membrane proteins, DC-STAMP domain containing (DCST) 1 and 2, are essential for male fertility in mice and zebrafish. Although dcst2 knockout (KO) zebrafish sperm showed impaired binding to the oolemma, mouse Dcst2 KO sperm showed impaired fusion after binding to the oolemma. Thus, the physiological functions of the target genes must be analyzed in various genetically modified animals. In this study, the physiological function of DCST1/2 in male fertility was examined in Dcst1/2 double-KO (dKO) rats. Dcst1/2 dKO male rats were completely infertile in mating tests, which was consistent with the phenotypes observed in Dcst1/2 dKO mice and zebrafish. The motility and acrosome reaction of Dcst1/2 dKO rat sperm were similar to those of control sperm. Dcst1/2 dKO sperm accumulated in the perivitelline space of eggs collected from females after natural mating, similar to izumo sperm-egg fusion 1 (Izumo1) KO rat sperm. Sperm lacking either Dcst1/2 or Izumo1 were incubated with zona pellucida-free eggs in vitro. Izumo1 KO sperm showed impaired sperm-egg binding. IZUMO1 remained in Dcst1/2 dKO sperm, and Dcst1/2 dKO sperm after the acrosome reaction could bind to, but not fuse with, the oolemma. Rat DCST1/2 is essential for sperm-egg fusion, which is consistent with the function of mouse DCST1/2. Phylogenetic analyses showed that human DCST1/2 was closer to mouse and rat DCST1/2 than to zebrafish Dcst1/2. The role of DCST1/2 in sperm-egg fusion is therefore widely conserved in mammals.

Indexed as

Membrane ProteinsSpermatozoaSperm-Ovum InteractionsAnimalsFemaleMaleRatsSperm ProteinsMembrane ProteinsSperm Proteinsfertilizationgenetically modified ratsinfertilityIZUMO1

Identifiers

PMID42176245
PMCPMC13482280

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.