Chronic Estrus Disrupts Uterine Gland Development and Homeostasis

Authors

C Allison Stewart
M David Stewart
Ying Wang
Rachel D Mullen
Bonnie K Kircher
Rui Liang
Yu Liu
Richard R Behringer

Publication Date

3-1-2022

Abstract

Female mice homozygous for an engineered Gnrhr E90K mutation have reduced gonadotropin-releasing hormone signaling, leading to infertility. Their ovaries have numerous antral follicles but no corpora lutea, indicating a block to ovulation. These mutants have high levels of circulating estradiol and low progesterone, indicating a state of persistent estrus. This mouse model provided a unique opportunity to examine the lack of cyclic levels of ovarian hormones on uterine gland biology. Although uterine gland development appeared similar to controls during prepubertal development, it was compromised during adolescence in the mutants. By age 20 weeks, uterine gland development was comparable to controls, but pathologies, including cribriform glandular structures, were observed. Induction of ovulations by periodic human chorionic gonadotropin treatment did not rescue postpubertal uterine gland development. Interestingly, progesterone receptor knockout mice, which lack progesterone signaling, also have defects in postpubertal uterine gland development. However, progesterone treatment did not rescue postpubertal uterine gland development. These studies indicate that chronically elevated levels of estradiol with low progesterone and therefore an absence of cyclic ovarian hormone secretion disrupts postpubertal uterine gland development and homeostasis.

Keywords

Animals, Chorionic Gonadotropin, Estradiol, Estrus, Female, Infertility, Female, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Ovarian Follicle, Ovulation, Progesterone, Receptors, LHRH, Uterus

DOI

10.1210/endocr/bqac011

PMID

35134138

PMCID

PMC8852258

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

2-3-2022

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes