Abstract
miR-29a/b1 was reportedly involved in the regulation of the reproductive function in female mice, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not clear. In this study, female mice lacking miR-29a/b1 showed a delay in vaginal opening, irregular estrous cycles, ovulation disorder and subfertility. The level of luteinizing hormone (LH) was significantly lower in plasma but higher in pituitary of mutant mice. However, egg development was normal in mutant mice and the ovulation disorder could be rescued by the superovulation treatment. These results suggested that the LH secretion was impaired in mutant mice. Further studies showed that deficiency of miR-29a/b1 in mice resulted in an abnormal expression of a number of proteins involved in vesicular transport and exocytosis in the pituitary, indicating the mutant mice had insufficient LH secretion. However, the detailed mechanism needs more research.
Highlights
The miR-29 family consists of three related mature miRNAs, miR-29a, miR-29b and miR-29c, which are processed from two precursor sequences located at two distinct genomic clusters of miR-29a/b1 and miR-29b2/c
RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed that expression of miR-29a periodically changed in pituitary and ovarian tissues (Figure S3A), suggesting that miR-29a/b1 may play a role in the estrous period in mammals
There was no apparent difference in Kiss1and Gnrh1, which stimulating secretion of gonadotropin releasing hormone from the hypothalamus [34,35,36,37] and luteinizing hormone from the pituitary [35], respectively (Figures 5D, E). These results suggest that ovulation disorder in miR-29a/b1 KO mice might be caused by dysregulation of related pituitary hormones, especially LH
Summary
The miR-29 family consists of three related mature miRNAs, miR-29a, miR-29b and miR-29c, which are processed from two precursor sequences located at two distinct genomic clusters of miR-29a/b1 and miR-29b2/c. Members of the miR-29 family are ubiquitously expressed, have considerable overall sequence homology with the same seed sequence. MiR-29 play important roles in regulating a number of physiological and pathological processes, including metabolism [1,2,3], inflammation [4, 5], fibrosis [6], cancer [7] and neurodegeneration [8]. Premature cardiac fibrosis and atherosclerotic plaque remodeling is considered as a result of abnormal expression of miR-29 target genes Col4a [11] and ECM (Col1a and Col5a) [12], and heart. MiR-29a/b1 Affect Ovulation and Fertility failure and metabolic disorders might be caused by up-regulating the target gene PCG1a [1]. The relationship between miR-29a/b1 and reproductive function is still not well understood
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