Gonocytes of ASZ1/GASZ-deficient male mice exhibit expression of aberrant chimeric transcripts via disrupted piRNA machinery

Till now, there have been many reports that deficiency in piRNA production from gonocytes to spermatocytes ceases spermatogenesis at the pachytene stage. However, the influences of impaired piRNA production on gonocyte transcriptome are almost unknown, though activation of retrotransposons manifests in fetal gonocytes. Gonocytes are the only source for spermatogonial stem cells, therefore, it is important to know how retrotransposon affects comprehensive transcriptome in gonocytes. To address this question and to obtain insight into ensuring robust spermatogenesis, here, we investigated transcriptome in gonocytes impaired the piRNA pathway using Asz1-deleted male mice.