NELF knockout is associated with impaired pubertal development and subfertility

Samuel D. Quaynor, Eun Kyung Ko, Lynn P. Chorich, Megan E. Sullivan, Durkadin Demir, Jennifer L. Waller, Hyung Goo Kim, Richard S. Cameron, Lawrence C. Layman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Puberty and reproduction require proper signaling of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis controlled by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, which arise in the olfactory placode region and migrate along olfactory axons to the hypothalamus. Factors adversely affecting GnRH neuron specification, migration, and function lead to delayed puberty and infertility. Nasal embryonic luteinizing hormone-releasing factor (NELF) is a predominantly nuclear protein. NELF mutations have been demonstrated in patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, but biallelic mutations are rare and heterozygous NELF mutations typically co-exist with mutations in another gene. Our previous studies in immortalized GnRH neurons supported a role for NELF in GnRH neuron migration. To better understand the physiology of NELF, a homozygous Nelf knockout (KO) mouse model was generated. Our findings indicate that female Nelf KO mice have delayed vaginal opening but no delay in time to first estrus, decreased uterine weight, and reduced GnRH neuron number. In contrast, male mice were normal at puberty. Both sexes of mice had impaired fertility manifested as reduced mean litter size. These data support that NELF has important reproductive functions. The milder than expected phenotype of KO mice also recapitulates the human phenotype since heterozygous NELF mutations usually require an additional mutation in a second gene to result in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)26-36
Number of pages11
JournalMolecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Volume407
DOIs
StatePublished - May 5 2015

Keywords

  • GnRH neuron migration
  • Infertility
  • NELF
  • NSMF
  • Nasal embryonic LHRH factor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Endocrinology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'NELF knockout is associated with impaired pubertal development and subfertility'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this