|
Comment |
Koo TB, et al reported the differential expression of the PEA3 subfamily of ETS transcription factors in the mouse ovary and peri-implantation uterus.
The objective of the present investigation was to examine the spatio-temporal expression of three members of the ETS family of transcription factors, ERM, ER81, and PEA3, in the peri-implantation mouse uterus and in the ovary. These three factors belong to the PEA3 subfamily and are known to mediate diverse functions ranging from neuronal development to tumor progression. As transcription factors, they regulate the expression of a number of genes with various biological functions. Since several genes with known roles in the reproductive processes have been shown to be under the regulation of one of these factors, we sought to investigate the expression of ERM, ER81, and PEA3 in the mouse ovary and uterus. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses showed that ERM, ER81, and PEA3 were all expressed in the peri-implantation mouse uterus, with higher levels of expression on days 4 and 5 of pregnancy. ERM was also highly expressed in the corpora lutea of the mouse ovary. Both ER81 and PEA3 were expressed at low levels in the stroma on days 4 and 5. On day 8, while ERM and PEA3 were mainly expressed in the embryo and were at low levels in the maternal decidua in a diffused pattern, ER81 was highly expressed in the vascular bed of the mesometrial deciduum. Both ER81 and PEA3 were undetectable in the mouse ovary. Collectively, these data show that ERM is implicated in the early event of implantation as well as in ovarian functions, while ER81 is involved in the establishment of the maternal vasculature for subsequent placental development. PEA3 is apparently an embryonic factor for early embryogenesis.
|
|
Mutations |
1 mutations
Species: mouse
Mutation name: None
type: null mutation
fertility: infertile - ovarian defect
Comment: Complex ovarian defects lead to infertility in Etv5-/- female mice. Eo J et al. Etv5 is a member of the Etv4 subfamily of Ets transcription factors. In female mice, Etv5 was previously shown to be expressed in the mouse ovary. In this work, we show that Etv5-/- female mice are infertile due to a complex reproductive phenotype. Defects in the ovarian tissue architecture were noted as early as 2 week of age in Etv5-/- mice. Adult Etv5-/- female mice show decreased ovulation and no interest in mating even after gonadotropin treatment. Histological abnormalities were also noted in Etv5-/- ovaries. Injection of 17-estradiol (E(2)) to gonadotropin-treated Etv5-/- mice significantly increased ovulation, mating, and fertilization rates. However, 2-cell embryos of Etv5-/- females show compromised development, suggesting a role for Etv5 in developmental competence of embryos. Expression of aromatase (CYP11a1), 17 a-hydroxylase 17,20 lyase/17,20 desmolase (CYP17a1) ,side-chain cleaving enzyme (CYP19a1), and luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (Lhcgr) mRNAs was not significantly altered in Etv5-/- ovaries. Collectively, our results suggest that Etv5 is important for the developmental competence of germ cells and the regulation of responses to steroid hormones in female mice.
|