TY - JOUR
T1 - Olfactomedin 1 deficiency leads to defective olfaction and impaired female fertility
AU - Li, Rong
AU - Diao, Honglu
AU - Zhao, Fei
AU - Xiao, Shuo
AU - El Zowalaty, Ahmed E.
AU - Dudley, Elizabeth A.
AU - Mattson, Mark P.
AU - Ye, Xiaoqin
PY - 2015/9/1
Y1 - 2015/9/1
N2 - Olfactomedin 1 (OLFM1) is a glycoprotein highly expressed in the brain. Olfm1-/- female mice were previously reported to have reduced fertility. Previous microarray analysis revealed Olfm1 among the most highly upregulated genes in the uterine luminal epithelium upon embryo implantation, which was confirmed by in situ hybridization. We hypothesized that Olfm1 deficiency led to defective embryo implantation and thus impaired fertility. Indeed, Olfm1-/- females had defective embryo implantation. However, Olfm1-/- females rarely mated and those that mated rarely became pregnant. Ovarian histology indicated the absence of corpora lutea in Olfm1-/- females, indicating defective ovulation. Superovulation using equine chorionic gonadotropinhuman chorionic gonadotropin rescued mating, ovulation, and pregnancy, and equine chorionic gonadotropin alone rescued ovulation in Olfm1-/- females. Olfm1-/- females had a 13% reduction of hypothalamic GnRH neurons but comparable basal serum LH levels and GnRH-induced LH levels compared with wild-type controls. These results indicated no obvious local defects in the female reproductive system and a functional hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Olfm1-/- females were unresponsive to the effects of male bedding stimulation on pubertal development and estrous cycle. There were 41% fewer cFos-positive cells in the mitral cell layer of accessory olfactory bulb upon male urine stimulation for 90 minutes. OLFM1 was expressed in the main and accessory olfactory systems including main olfactory epithelium, vomeronasal organ, main olfactory bulb, and accessory olfactory bulb, with the highest expression detected in the axon bundles of olfactory sensory neurons. These data demonstrate that defective fertility in Olfm1-/- females is most likely a secondary effect of defective olfaction.
AB - Olfactomedin 1 (OLFM1) is a glycoprotein highly expressed in the brain. Olfm1-/- female mice were previously reported to have reduced fertility. Previous microarray analysis revealed Olfm1 among the most highly upregulated genes in the uterine luminal epithelium upon embryo implantation, which was confirmed by in situ hybridization. We hypothesized that Olfm1 deficiency led to defective embryo implantation and thus impaired fertility. Indeed, Olfm1-/- females had defective embryo implantation. However, Olfm1-/- females rarely mated and those that mated rarely became pregnant. Ovarian histology indicated the absence of corpora lutea in Olfm1-/- females, indicating defective ovulation. Superovulation using equine chorionic gonadotropinhuman chorionic gonadotropin rescued mating, ovulation, and pregnancy, and equine chorionic gonadotropin alone rescued ovulation in Olfm1-/- females. Olfm1-/- females had a 13% reduction of hypothalamic GnRH neurons but comparable basal serum LH levels and GnRH-induced LH levels compared with wild-type controls. These results indicated no obvious local defects in the female reproductive system and a functional hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Olfm1-/- females were unresponsive to the effects of male bedding stimulation on pubertal development and estrous cycle. There were 41% fewer cFos-positive cells in the mitral cell layer of accessory olfactory bulb upon male urine stimulation for 90 minutes. OLFM1 was expressed in the main and accessory olfactory systems including main olfactory epithelium, vomeronasal organ, main olfactory bulb, and accessory olfactory bulb, with the highest expression detected in the axon bundles of olfactory sensory neurons. These data demonstrate that defective fertility in Olfm1-/- females is most likely a secondary effect of defective olfaction.
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U2 - 10.1210/en.2015-1389
DO - 10.1210/en.2015-1389
M3 - Article
C2 - 26107991
AN - SCOPUS:84942807227
SN - 0013-7227
VL - 156
SP - 3344
EP - 3357
JO - Endocrinology
JF - Endocrinology
IS - 9
ER -