Mice that are homozygous for the targeted mutation are viable, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. No gene product (mRNA or protein) is detected by Northern or Western blot analysis. Homozygous female mice are fertile. Homozygous male mice are subfertile, producing small litters. Sperm retention in seminiferous tubules of mutant mice is due to increased sperm tail abnormalities. Transition protein 1 and precursor and partially processed protamine 2 levels are elevated in testis tissue. Electron microscopy analysis of mutant testis tissue reveals abnormal cylindrical focal chromatin condensation morphology in spermatids and incomplete chromatin condensation with lacunae and granularity in late stage spermatids and epididymal sperm. Increased uptake of DNA intercalating dyes by mutant sperm nuclei and susceptibility of mutant sperm DNA to acid denaturation is indicative of DNA strand breakage. This mutant mouse strain may be useful in studies of male infertility and/or subfertility.

Male <i> Tnp2</i> knock-out mice exhibit abnormal sperm development.

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