Transposon-driven transcription is a conserved feature of vertebrate spermatogenesis and transcript evolution

In order to better understand the features associated with male germline transcription we profiled the RNA expression in a number of germline cell types. These include spermatogonial stem cells, spermatocytes and round spermatids in mouse and spermatocytes in rat. We also profiled the transcription in zebrafish testes. As a consequence it became apparent that transposable elements are driving considerable lncRNA expression in the later stages of spermatogenesis. This is particularly apparent in the case of endogenous retroviruses in rodents.