title: Interleukin 2 receptor gamma chain (gamma(c)) knockout mice show less regularity in estrous cycle but achieve normal pregnancy without fetal compromise.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Implication of cytokines in pregnancy suggested but remains to be established. We studied the effect of cytokines on reproductive functions such as ovulation and pregnancy, with mutant mice lacking interleukin 2 receptor gamma (IL-2Rgamma), the so-called common gamma chain (gamma(c)), which is shared among receptors for multiple cytokines such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9 and IL-15.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regularities of estrous cycles were observed by vaginal smear. Ovaries stimulated with postmenopausal serum gonadotropin (PMSG) were examined for the ovarian capacities. The uteri at 13 days of gestation were used for histological analysis of the maternal-fetal interface.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The estrous cycles in gamma(c) knockout (gamma(c) KO) mice were irregular compared with wild-type mice, although, the mutants could become pregnant. No uterine natural killer (uNK) cell was found in the uterus at 13 days of pregnancy, and poor decidual formation and thickness of blood vessel walls were observed. Apparent differences were not seen in the numbers and weight of the fetuses between wild type and mutant animals, and fetuses were not compromised throughout pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The gamma(c) KO mice showed irregular estrous cycle but they could carry out normal pregnancy despite lacking uNK and cytokines actions of IL-2, 4, 7, 9 and 15.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
authors.forename: Satomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanebe
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michimata
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimura
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kiso
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004971:Estrus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2