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Brain abnormalities, defective meiotic chromosome synapsis and female subfertility in HSF2 null mice
Author(s) -
Kallio Marko,
Chang Yunhua,
Manuel Martine,
Alastalo TeroPekka,
Rallu Murielle,
Gitton Yorick,
Pirkkala Lila,
Loones MarieThérèse,
Paslaru Liliana,
Larney Severine,
Hiard Sophie,
Morange Michel,
Sistonen Lea,
Mezger Valérie
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/21.11.2591
Subject(s) - biology , synapsis , microbiology and biotechnology , meiosis , andrology , genetics , immunology , gene , medicine
Heat shock factor 2, one of the four vertebrate HSFs, transcriptional regulators of heat shock gene expression, is active during embryogenesis and spermatogenesis, with unknown functions and targets. By disrupting the Hsf2 gene, we show that, although the lack of HSF2 is not embryonic lethal, Hsf2 −/− mice suffer from brain abnormalities, and meiotic and gameto genesis defects in both genders. The disturbances in brain are characterized by the enlargement of lateral and third ventricles and the reduction of hippocampus and striatum, in correlation with HSF2 expression in proliferative cells of the neuroepithelium and in some ependymal cells in adults. Many developing spermatocytes are eliminated via apoptosis in a stage‐specific manner in Hsf2 −/− males, and pachytene spermatocytes also display structural defects in the synaptonemal complexes between homologous chromosomes. Hsf2 −/− females suffer from multiple fertility defects: the production of abnormal eggs, the reduction in ovarian follicle number and the presence of hemorrhagic cystic follicles are consistent with meiotic defects. Hsf2 −/− females also display hormone response defects, that can be rescued by superovulation treatment, and exhibit abnormal rates of luteinizing hormone receptor mRNAs.