In eukaryotes, meiosis is the genetic basis for sexual reproduction, which is important for chromosome stability and species evolution. The defects in meiosis usually lead to chromosome aneuploidy, reduced gamete number, and genetic diseases, but the pathogenic mechanisms are not well clarified. Kinesin-7 CENP-E is a key regulator in chromosome alignment and spindle assembly checkpoint in cell division. However, the functions and mechanisms of CENP-E in male meiosis remain largely unknown. In this study, we have revealed that the CENP-E gene was highly expressed in the rat testis. CENP-E inhibition influences chromosome alignment and spindle organization in metaphase I spermatocytes. We have found that a portion of misaligned homologous chromosomes is located at the spindle poles after CENP-E inhibition, which further activates the spindle assembly checkpoint during the metaphase-to-anaphase transition in rat spermatocytes. Furthermore, CENP-E depletion leads to abnormal spermatogenesis, reduced sperm count, and abnormal sperm head structure. Our findings have elucidated that CENP-E is essential for homologous chromosome alignment and spindle assembly checkpoint in spermatocytes, which further contribute to chromosome stability and sperm cell quality during spermatogenesis.

在真核生物中，减数分裂是有性生殖的遗传基础，对于染色体稳定性和物种进化非常重要。减数分裂缺陷通常导致染色体非整倍体、配子数量减少和遗传性疾病，但其致病机制尚不清楚。Kinesin-7 CENP-E 是细胞分裂中染色体排列和纺锤体组装检查点的关键调节因子。然而，CENP-E在雄性减数分裂中的功能和机制仍知之甚少。在这项研究中，我们发现CENP-E基因在大鼠睾丸中高表达。CENP-E 抑制影响中期 I 精母细胞的染色体排列和纺锤体组织。我们发现CENP-E抑制后，一部分错位的同源染色体位于纺锤体两极，这进一步激活了大鼠精母细胞中期到后期转变期间的纺锤体组装检查点。此外，CENP-E 缺失会导致精子发生异常、精子数量减少和精子头部结构异常。我们的研究结果阐明，CENP-E 对于精母细胞中的同源染色体排列和纺锤体组装检查点至关重要，这进一步有助于精子发生过程中的染色体稳定性和精子细胞质量。