An ovarian phenotype of alpha 7 nicotinic receptor knockout mice

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Pia Seßenhausen - , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) (Autor:in)
  • Karolina M. Caban - , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) (Autor:in)
  • Nicole Kreitmair - , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) (Autor:in)
  • Mirko Peitzsch - , Institut für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin, Hochschulmedizin (Medizinische Fakultät und Universitätsklinikum), Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Jan B. Stöckl - , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) (Autor:in)
  • Marie C. Meinsohn - , Harvard University (Autor:in)
  • David Pépin - , Harvard University (Autor:in)
  • Bastian Popper - , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) (Autor:in)
  • Thomas Fröhlich - , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) (Autor:in)
  • Artur Mayerhofer - , Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) (Autor:in)

Abstract

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 7 (nAChRa7), encoded by Chrna7, is involved in cellular functions ranging from synaptic transmission in neurons to regulation of inflammation, cell growth and metabolism to cell death in other cells. Our qPCR results and other studies indicated that nAChRa7 is expressed in the adult mouse ovary, while in situ hybridization and single-cell sequencing data suggested this expression may be shared by several ovarian cells, including fibroblast-like and steroidogenic stroma cells, macrophages and oocytes of small follicles. To explore a possible involvement of nAChRa7 in ovarian functions, we evaluated ovarian morphology of Chrna7-null mutant adult mice (KO) and wildtype mice (WT; 3 months, metestrus) by performing immunohistochemistry, qPCR studies, measurements of serum progesterone and proteomic analyses. The evaluation of serial sections indicated fewer primordial follicles but similar numbers of primary, secondary and tertiary follicles, as well as corpora lutea in KO and WT mice. Atresia was unchanged. Serum progesterone and mRNA levels of proliferation and most apoptosis markers were not changed, yet two typical macrophage markers were elevated. Furthermore, the proteomes of KO ovaries were significantly altered with 96 proteins increased and 32 decreased in abundance in KOs compared to WTs. Among the elevated proteins were markers for stroma cells. Hence, the lack of nAChRa7 causes changes in small follicle counts and alterations of the ovarian stroma cells. The ovarian phenotype of Chrna7 mutant mice links this channel protein to the local regulation of ovarian cells, including stroma cells.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)221-234
Seitenumfang14
FachzeitschriftReproduction
Jahrgang166
Ausgabenummer3
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Sept. 2023
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

PubMed 37432973