Constitutive activation of smoothened leads to female infertility and altered uterine differentiation in the mouse.

ABSTRACT: Previous work has identified Indian hedgehog (Ihh) as a major mediator of progesterone signaling during embryo implantation. Ihh acts through its downstream effector smoothened (Smo) to activate the GLI family of transcription factors. In order to gain a better understanding of Ihh action during embryo implantation, we expressed a Cre-recombinase-dependent constitutively activated SMO in the murine uterus using the Pgr(tm2(cre)Lyd) (PR(cre)) mouse model [Pgr(tm2(cre)Lyd+)Gt(ROSA)26Sor(tm1(Smo/EYFP)Amc)(+) (PR(cre/+)SmoM2(+))]. Female PR(cre/+)SmoM2(+) mice were infertile. They exhibited normal serum progesterone levels and normal ovulation, but their ova failed to be fertilized in vivo and their uterus failed to undergo the artificially induced decidual response. Examination of the PR(cre/

SUBMITTER: Franco HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2857637 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature