Deficiency of Wnt10a causes female infertility via the ß-catenin/Cyp19a1 pathway in mice.

ABSTRACT

Wnt signaling is relevant for a wide range of biological processes, including reproductive function. The function of Wnt10a in female fertility, however, remains obscure. In the present study, we explored the structure and function of the female reproductive organs in Wnt10a knockout (KO) mice. The expression of ß-catenin signaling was significantly lower in the ovaries of the Wnt10a KO mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice. In addition, the estrous cycles were disrupted, ovarian follicles were diminished, and endometria were thinner, accompanied by lower serum estrogen levels, and higher testosterone and progesterone levels in Wnt10a KO mice. The expression of the ovarian cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1 (Cyp19a1) was significantly lower in Wnt10a KO mice. We detected no significant changes in the levels of the gonadotropins between WT and KO mice. Together, our findings indicate that deficiency of Wnt10a causes female infertility through ß-catenin and Cyp19a1signaling pathways in mice.