title: Heme oxygenase-1 expression in the ovary dictates a proper oocyte ovulation, fertilization, and corpora lutea maintenance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Animals deficient in Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1, Hmox1(-/-) mice) have impaired pregnancies, characterized by intrauterine fetal death. HO-1 expression has been shown to be essential for pregnancy by dictating placentation and intrauterine fetal development. Its absence leads to intrauterine fetal growth restriction and fetal loss, which is independent of the immune system. Defect in previous steps, e.g., ovulation, may, however, also count for their poor reproductive outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we investigated ovulation after hormonal hyperstimulation in Hmox1 wild-type and knockout animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed that animals lacking HO-1 produced significantly less oocytes after hormonal stimulation than wild type animals and this was mirrored by the number of corpora lutea in the ovary. Furthermore, ovulated oocytes from Hmox1(-/-) animals were poorly fertilized compared with those from wild-type animals. In conclusion, we demonstrate here that HO-1 plays a pivotal role in the process of oocyte ovulation as well as fertilization, bringing to light a new and unsuspected role for HO-1.
authors: Department of Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors: Maria L
authors: ML
authors: Zenclussen
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Jensen
authors: Sofia
authors: S
authors: Rebelo
authors: Tarek
authors: T
authors: El-Mousleh
authors: Pablo A
authors: PA
authors: Casalis
authors: Ana C
authors: AC
authors: Zenclussen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003340:Corpus Luteum Maintenance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1