Aquaporin-4 deficiency induces subfertility in female mice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) on female fertility.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized animal study.


METHODS
Medical university.


METHODS
AQP4(+/+) and AQP4(-/-) female mice.


METHODS
Eight- to 10-week-old virgin female AQP4(+/+) and AQP4(-/-) mice were subjected to a mating study. Superovulation was carried out on 4-week-old AQP4(+/+) and AQP4(-/-) mice. The protocol consisted of a single intraperitoneal (IP) injection with 5 units of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) for 48 hours, followed by 5 units of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for an additional 14 or 48 hours.


METHODS
Pregnancy success, oocyte count, morphological changes in ovaries and uteri, and alterations of estrous cycle.


RESULTS
AQP4-null mice displayed subfertility as evidenced by a lower rate of pregnancy and decreased litter size. Further studies revealed that in AQP4-null mice, there were fewer numbers of antral follicles and corpora lutea in the ovaries and that uteri presented as hyporeactive to gonadotropins. In addition, in AQP4-null mice, superovulation induced by hCG and PMSG yielded fewer numbers of antral follicles, atretic follicles, corpora lutea, and oocytes in ovaries, and uteri exhibited a decreased response to exogenous gonadotropins.


CONCLUSIONS
AQP4 deficiency induces subfertility in female mice.
Sun
Xiu-Lan
XL
Department of Anatomy, Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Neuropharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
Zhang
Jing
J
Fan
Yi
Y
Ding
Jian-Hua
JH
Sha
Jia-Hao
JH
Hu
Gang
G
D000818:Animals; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009929:Organ Size / Q000235:genetics; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000473:pathology; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011897:Random Allocation; D013480:Superovulation / Q000235:genetics; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
C496031:Aqp4 protein, mouse; D051401:Aquaporin 4