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Thirteen Ovary-Enriched Genes Are Individually Not Essential for Female Fertility in Mice
Anh Hoang Pham1,2, Chihiro Emori1, Yu Ishikawa-Yamauchi3,4
1Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Cells
|May 24, 2024
Summary
Female fertility relies on numerous genes, but this study found 13 specific ovary-enriched genes are not essential for reproduction in mice. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing confirmed these genes individually do not impact fertility outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Genetics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Infertility affects 1 in 6 couples globally, with female factors contributing to 50% of cases.
- Over 150 genes are highly expressed in the ovary, but their roles in fertility are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of 13 ovary and/or oocyte-enriched genes in female fertility.
- To determine if individual knockout of these genes affects reproductive capability in mice.
Main Methods:
- CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing was used to create 13 individual knockout mouse lines for specific genes.
- Mating tests were conducted to assess offspring production.
- Ovarian histology and in vitro fertilization were performed on select mutant lines.
Main Results:
- All 13 mutant mouse lines successfully produced offspring.
- No significant anomalies were observed in ovarian development or fertilization ability in the tested lines.
- The 13 investigated genes are individually non-essential for female fertility in mice.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates that 13 specific ovary-enriched genes are not critical for female fertility in mice.
- These findings contribute to understanding the genetic basis of female reproduction and infertility.
