| First Author | Lan ZJ | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | EMBO J | Volume | 22 |
| Issue | 16 | Pages | 4070-81 |
| PubMed ID | 12912906 | Mgi Jnum | J:85054 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2671590 | Doi | 10.1093/emboj/cdg405 |
| Citation | Lan ZJ, et al. (2003) GCNF-dependent repression of BMP-15 and GDF-9 mediates gamete regulation of female fertility. EMBO J 22(16):4070-81 |
| abstractText | To determine the function of germ cell nuclear factor (GCNF) in female reproduction, we generated an oocyte-specific GCNF knockout mouse model (GCNF(fl/fl)Zp3Cre(+)). These mice displayed hypofertility due to prolonged diestrus phase of the estrous cycle and aberrant steroidogenesis. These reproductive defects were secondary to a primary defect in the oocytes, in which expression of the paracrine transforming growth factor-beta signaling molecules, bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9), were up-regulated in GCNF(fl/fl)Zp3Cre(+) females at diestrus. This was a direct effect of GCNF, as molecular studies showed that GCNF bound to DR0 elements within the BMP-15 and GDF-9 gene promoters and repressed their reporter activities. Consistent with these findings, abnormal double-oocyte follicles, indicative of aberrant BMP-15/GDF-9 expression, were observed in GCNF(fl/fl)Zp3Cre(+) females. The Cre/loxP knockout of GCNF in the oocyte has uncovered a new regulatory pathway in ovarian function. Our results show that GCNF directly regulates paracrine communication between the oocyte and somatic cells by regulating the expression of BMP-15 and GDF-9, to affect female fertility. |
