Characterisation of the zygotene cilium in human spermatogenesis (A06)

• Subject Area: Reproductive Medicine, Urology ; Cell Biology
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 549467913

Azoospermia, i.e., the lack of sperm in the ejaculate, is often caused by sperm production arrested at meiosis. Studies in zebrafish and mice indicate that meiosis is regulated by a non-motile primary cilium emanating from zygotene spermatocytes. This suggests that ciliopathies, so far rather known to affect sperm motility, may also impact meiosis and spermatogenesis. This project will investigate the role of primary cilia and associated genes and proteins in the human testis, unravelling whether dysfunction of primary cilia represents an as yet unrecognised pathomechanism of human male infertility.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1748: Principles of Reproduction – Unravelling the Molecular Mechanisms of Male Infertility
• Applicant Institution: Universität Münster
• Project Heads: Dr. Corinna Friedrich; Dr. Julia Wallmeier