Meiosis occurs normally in the fetal ovary of mice lacking all retinoic acid receptors.
Fiche publication
Date publication
mai 2020
Journal
Science advances
Auteurs
Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr TELETIN Marius, Dr MARK Manuel
Tous les auteurs :
Vernet N, Condrea D, Mayere C, Féret B, Klopfenstein M, Magnant W, Alunni V, Teletin M, Souali-Crespo S, Nef S, Mark M, Ghyselinck NB
Lien Pubmed
Résumé
Gametes are generated through a specialized cell differentiation process, meiosis, which, in ovaries of most mammals, is initiated during fetal life. All- retinoic acid (ATRA) is considered as the molecular signal triggering meiosis initiation. In the present study, we analyzed female fetuses ubiquitously lacking all ATRA nuclear receptors (RAR), obtained through a tamoxifen-inducible cre recombinase-mediated gene targeting approach. Unexpectedly, mutant oocytes robustly expressed meiotic genes, including the meiotic gatekeeper STRA8. In addition, ovaries from mutant fetuses grafted into adult recipient females yielded offspring bearing null alleles for all genes. Thus, our results show that RAR are fully dispensable for meiotic initiation, as well as for the production of functional oocytes. Assuming that the effects of ATRA all rely on RAR, our study goes against the current model according to which meiosis is triggered by endogenous ATRA in the developing ovary. It therefore revives the search for the meiosis-inducing substance.
Référence
Sci Adv. 2020 May;6(21):