Objective To study the effect of ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 gene deletion on the reproductive system of female mice.
Methods The effects of UCH-L1 gene deletion on ovarian function and follicular development in mice were analyzed by vaginal smear, immunohistochemistry, western blotting and RNA interference.
RESULTS: Adult female mice homozygous for the deletion of the UCH-L1 gene had reduced body weight, difficulty in movement, and a slender uterus. UCH-L1 protein expression was not detected in the ovaries and uterus of UCH-L1 gene deletion homozygous mice, the ovary volume was significantly smaller than that of heterozygous mice, and there were some primordial follicles or atretic follicles in the ovarian cortex, but no mature follicles and corpus luteum. . Reproductive key receptors such as estrogen receptor (ER), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (LHR), luteinizing homone receptor (LHR) and progesterone receptor (PR). The expression level of ER in the ovary of UCHL1|deletion homozygous mice and heterozygous mice was significantly lower than that of heterozygous mice. Down-regulating the expression of UCH-LI in oocytes at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage by RNA interference can significantly reduce the maturation rate of oocytes.
Conclusion UCH-L1 gene-deficient female mice do not have the ability to form mature follicles and ovulate, and the expression of ER in the ovary is significantly reduced. It is speculated that UCH-L1 may affect oocyte maturation and ovulation by down-regulating the expression of ER in the ovary.