[HTML][HTML] Impaired microRNA processing causes corpus luteum insufficiency and infertility in mice

M Otsuka, M Zheng, M Hayashi, JD Lee… - The Journal of …, 2008 - Am Soc Clin Investig
M Otsuka, M Zheng, M Hayashi, JD Lee, O Yoshino, S Lin, J Han
The Journal of clinical investigation, 2008Am Soc Clin Investig
The microRNA (miRNA) processing enzyme Dicer1 is required for zygotic and embryonic
development, but the early embryonic lethality of Dicer1 null alleles in mice has limited our
ability to address the role of Dicer1 in normal mouse growth and development. To address
this question, we used a mouse mutant with a hypomorphic Dicer1 allele (Dicerd/d) and
found that Dicer1 deficiency resulted in female infertility. This defect in female Dicerd/d mice
was caused by corpus luteum (CL) insufficiency and resulted, at least in part, from the …
The microRNA (miRNA) processing enzyme Dicer1 is required for zygotic and embryonic development, but the early embryonic lethality of Dicer1 null alleles in mice has limited our ability to address the role of Dicer1 in normal mouse growth and development. To address this question, we used a mouse mutant with a hypomorphic Dicer1 allele (Dicerd/d) and found that Dicer1 deficiency resulted in female infertility. This defect in female Dicerd/d mice was caused by corpus luteum (CL) insufficiency and resulted, at least in part, from the impaired growth of new capillary vessels in the ovary. We found that the impaired CL angiogenesis in Dicerd/d mice was associated with a lack of miR17-5p and let7b, 2 miRNAs that participate in angiogenesis by regulating the expression of the antiangiogenic factor tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1. Furthermore, injection of miR17-5p and let7b into the ovaries of Dicerd/d mice partially normalized tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 expression and CL angiogenesis. Our data indicate that the development and function of the ovarian CL is a physiological process that appears to be regulated by miRNAs and requires Dicer1 function.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation