Prevention of the polycystic ovarian phenotype and characterization of ovulatory capacity in the estrogen receptor-alpha knockout mouse

Ovarian-derived estradiol plays a critical endocrine role in the regulation of gonadotropin synthesis and secretion from the hypothalamic-pituitary ax is. In turn, several para/autocrine effects of estrogen within the ovary ar e known, including increased ovarian weight, stimulation of granulosa cell growth, augmentation of FSH action, and attenuation of apoptosis. The estro gen receptor-alpha (ER alpha) is present in all three components of the hyp othalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis of the mouse. In contrast, estrogen recept or-beta (ER beta) is easily detectable in ovarian granulosa cells but is lo w to absent in the pituitary of the adult mouse. This distinct expression p attern for the two ERs suggests the presence of separate roles for each in the regulation of ovarian function. Herein, we definitively show that a lac k of ER alpha in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of the ER alpha-knockout ( alpha ERKO) mouse results in chronic elevation of serum LH and is the prima ry cause of the ovarian phenotype of polycystic follicles and anovulation. Prolonged treatment with a GnRH antagonist reduced serum LH levels and prev ented the alpha ERKO cystic ovarian phenotype. To investigate a direct role for ER alpha within the ovary, immature alpha ERKO females were stimulated to ovulate with exogenous gonadotropins. Ovulatory capacity in the immatur e alpha ERKO female was reduced compared with age-matched wild-type (14.5 /- 2.9 vs. 40.6 +/- 2.6 oocytes/animal, respectively); however, oocytes col lected from the alpha ERKO were able to undergo successful in vitro fertili zation. A similar discrepancy in oocyte yield was observed after superovula tion of peripubertal (42 days) wild-type and alpha ERKO females. In additio n, ovaries from immature superovulated alpha ERKO females possessed several ovulatory but unruptured follicles. Investigations of the possible reasons for the reduced number of ovulations in the alpha ERKO included ribonuclea se protection assays to assess the mRNA levels of several markers of follic ular maturation and ovulation, including ER beta, LH-receptor, cyclin-D2, P 450-side chain cleavage enzyme, prostaglandin synthase-a, and progesterone receptor. No marked differences in the expression pattern for these mRNAs d uring the superovulation regimen were observed in the immature alpha ERKO o vary compared with that of the wild-type. Serum progesterone levels just be fore ovulation were slightly lower in the alpha ERKO compared with wild-typ e. These studies indicate that treatment of alpha ERKO females with a GnRH antagonist decreased the serum LH levels to within the wild-type range and concurrently prevented development of the characteristic ovarian phenotype of cystic and hemorrhagic follicles. Furthermore, a lack of functional ER a lpha within the ovary had no effect on the regulation of several genes requ ired for follicular maturation and ovulation. However, the reduced numbers of ovulations following the administration of exogenous gonadotropins in th e alpha ERKO suggests an intraovarian role for ER alpha in follicular devel opment and ovulation.