Disruption of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene affects ovulation, fertilization and early embryo survival in a knockout mouse model

Two consecutive experiments determined whether disruption of the endothelial nitric oxide synthases (NOS) gene (Nos3) affects ovulation, fertilization, implantation, and embryo development. In the first trial, Nos3-knockout mice (groups Nos3-/-) and wild-type mice (groups Nos3+/+) showed significant differences in mean number of corpora lutea (9.7±1.2 in Nos3-/- versus 14.2±1.2 in Nos3+/+; P<0.01), rate of anovulation (48.3±7.3% in Nos3-/- versus 29.7±6.3 in Nos3+/+; P<0.05), total mean number of recovered oocytes/zygotes (4.0±1.1 in Nos3-/- versus 10.4±1.6 in Nos3+/+; P<0.01), and non-fertilization rate (50.7 in Nos3-/- versus 3.3% in Nos3+/+; P<0.001). Inthe second trial, implantation and early pregnancy losses in Nos3-knockout and wild-type dams were detected by real-time ultrasound imaging. The number of embryos reaching implantation was higher in Nos3+/+ than in Nos3-/- mice (7.5±0.4 vs 4.0±0.4; P<0.005); thereafter, embryo losses were detected between days 8.5 and 13.5, in 62.5% of the Nos3-knockout dams and, at days 10.5 and 11.5, in 16.7% of the control females (P<0.005). Thus, NO and NOS3 deficiencies affect reproductive and developmental features in the Nos3-knockout mouse model. © 2008 Society for Reproduction and Fertility.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Pallares, P., Garcia-Fernandez, R. A., Criado, L. M., Letelier, C. A., Esteban, D., Fernandez-Toro, J. M., Flores, J. M., González De Bulnes, Antonio
Format:	artículo biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	BioScientifica 2008
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12792/3295 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/289967
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!