Impaired Regulation of Gonadotropins Leads to the Atrophy of the Female Reproductive System in klotho-Deficient Mice

Abstract

klotho-Deficient mice exhibit a syndrome resembling human premature ageing, with multiple pathological phenotypes in tissues including reproductive organs. It was proposed that Klotho might possess the hormonal effects on many organs. In this study, the female reproductive system of klotho mice was examined to reveal the mechanism that brought the female sterility by histological and molecular approaches. We observed cessation of ovarian follicular maturation at the preantral stage and the presence of numerous atretic ovarian follicles and atrophic uteri. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that LH receptor and aromatase P450 were not expressed in the ovaries. These results suggest the impairment of gonadal development during the antral transition process. We next addressed the responsible organs for the failure of antral transition. Transplantation of klotho ovaries to wild-type mice resulted in the ability to bear offspring. Administration of FSH or GnRH induced advanced maturation of ovaries and uteri in klotho mice. These results indicate that the female reproductive organs in klotho mice are potentially functional and that klotho gene deficiency leads to the atrophy of reproductive organs via impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Absence of the estrus cycle and constant low trends of both FSH and LH levels were found in female klotho mice. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the production of both FSH and LH were decreased in pituitary gland. Taken together, our findings suggest the involvement of klotho in the regulatory control of pituitary hormones.