[Effect of germ cell Wdr1 deletion on the ovarian function of mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Wdr1 deletion in germ cells on ovarian function of mice.

METHODS: Oocyte-specific gene knockout mouse model was constructed by crossing Wdr1fl/fl female mice with Cre recombinase transgenic male mice which was driven by a germ cell-specific promoter. Wdr1fl/- ; Ddx4-Cre mice and control mice were sacrificed at 14 days, 28 days and 4 months after birth, whose ovaries were subjected to photography, paraffin sectioning and Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining. The ovarian volume and follicular numbers were recorded at various time points.

RESULTS: The ovarian volume of Wdr1 fl/- ; Ddx4-Cre mice was slightly lower than that of the controls at 14 days. HE staining showed that primordial follicles, primary follicles and secondary follicles were slightly reduced compared with the control mice at 14 days. The ovarian volume of Wdr1 fl/- ; Ddx4-Cre mice was significantly lower than that of the control mice at 28 days and 4 months. HE staining showed that all developmental follicles were significantly reduced compared with the control mice.

CONCLUSION: Wdr1 gene deletion in germ cells can influence early ovarian function of mice and lead to premature ovarian failure.