Zp4 在雌性大鼠的生育中完全可有可无†。

Zp4 is completely dispensable for fertility in female rats†.

机构信息

Institute of Reproductive & Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Center of Reproductive Health，School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.

出版信息

Biol Reprod. 2021 Jun 4;104(6):1282-1291. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioab047.

DOI:10.1093/biolre/ioab047

PMID:33709118

Abstract

Zona pellucida (ZP), which is composed of at most four extracellular glycoproteins (ZP1, ZP2, ZP3, and ZP4) in mammals, shelters the oocytes and is vital in female fertility. Several studies have identified the indispensable roles of ZP1-3 in maintaining normal female fertility. However, the understanding of ZP4 is still very poor because only one study on ZP4-associated infertility performed in rabbits has been reported up to date. Here we investigated the function of mammalian Zp4 by creating a knockout (KO) rat strain (Zp4-/- rat) using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated DNA-editing method. The influence of Zp4 KO on ZP morphology and some pivotal processes of reproduction, including oogenesis, ovulation, fertilization, and pup production, were studied using periodic acid-Schiff's staining, superovulation, in vitro fertilization, and natural mating. The ZP morphology in Zp4-/- rats was normal, and none of these pivotal processes was affected. This study renewed the knowledge of mammalian Zp4 by suggesting that Zp4 was completely dispensable for female fertility.

摘要

透明带（ZP）由哺乳动物中最多四种细胞外糖蛋白（ZP1、ZP2、ZP3 和 ZP4）组成，它为卵母细胞提供庇护，对女性生育力至关重要。多项研究已经确定了 ZP1-3 在维持女性正常生育力方面的不可或缺的作用。然而，人们对 ZP4 的了解仍然非常有限，因为迄今为止，仅在兔子中进行了一项关于与 ZP4 相关的不育症的研究。在这里，我们使用 CRISPR-Cas9 介导的 DNA 编辑方法创建了一个敲除（KO）大鼠品系（Zp4-/-大鼠），从而研究了哺乳动物 Zp4 的功能。我们使用过碘酸-Schiff 染色、超数排卵、体外受精和自然交配研究了 Zp4 KO 对 ZP 形态和包括卵母细胞发生、排卵、受精和产仔在内的一些生殖关键过程的影响。Zp4-/- 大鼠的 ZP 形态正常，这些关键过程均未受影响。这项研究通过表明 Zp4 对于雌性生育力完全是可有可无的，更新了人们对哺乳动物 Zp4 的认识。