HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 77/2/217    most recent biolreprod.106.059121v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Labelle-Dumais, C. Articles by Dufort, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Labelle-Dumais, C. Articles by Dufort, D. Agricola Articles by Labelle-Dumais, C. Articles by Dufort, D.

Impaired Progesterone Production in Nr5a2^+/– Mice Leads to a Reduction in Female Reproductive Function¹

Division of Experimental Medicine,³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,⁴ McGill University, RVH, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 1A1 Département de Biologie Médicale,⁶ Faculté de Médecine, Le Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de l'Université Laval, L'Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, Québec, Canada G1R 2J6 Department of Physiology,⁵ McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3G 1Y6

ABSTRACT

NR5A2 is an orphan nuclear receptor involved in cholesterol metabolism and embryogenesis. The high level of expression of NR5A2 in the ovary and its involvement in the regulation of steroidogenic gene expression also suggest a role for this transcription factor in female reproductive function. In vivo evidence for a role for NR5A2 in fertility, however, is still lacking. In order to address this possibility, we used Nr5a2^+/– mice to demonstrate that heterozygosity for a null mutation of Nr5a2 leads to a decreased fertility in females. Our results indicate that although Nr5a2^+/– mice display normal follicular development, ovulation, and estrogen production, they exhibit altered luteal function. More specifically, we show that the reduced reproductive ability of Nr5a2^+/– females arises from a reduction in circulating progesterone concentrations and can be rescued by exogenous progesterone supplementation. This study therefore provides the first in vivo evidence for a role of NR5A2 in reproductive function and steroidogenesis.

corpus luteum function,, estrogen,, fertility,, granulosa cells,, implantation,, NR5A2,, pregnancy,, progesterone,, steroidogenesis

¹Supported by the Canadian Institute of Health Research. D.D. is a Chercheur Boursier du Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (FRSQ).

Correspondence: ²Daniel Dufort, Royal Victoria Hospital, 687 Pine Avenue West, Rm F3-24, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 1A1. FAX: 514 843 1662; e-mail: daniel.dufort{at}mcgill.ca

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Duggavathi, D. H. Volle, C. Mataki, M. C. Antal, N. Messaddeq, J. Auwerx, B. D. Murphy, and K. Schoonjans Liver receptor homolog 1 is essential for ovulation Genes & Dev., July 15, 2008; 22(14): 1871 - 1876. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]