Wdr62 is involved in female meiotic initiation via activating JNK signaling and associated with POI in humans
Fig 5
RA-induced meiosis-associated gene expression was attenuated by JNK inhibitor treatment.
Control ovaries and testes at E13.5 and P2 were cultured in vitro and treated with 1 μM RA and/or 1 μM JNK inhibitor SP600125. The expression of meiotic genes was examined by immunofluorescence and real-time PCR. The number of (E) STRA8-positive germ cells (red, white arrowheads) in the ovaries was dramatically reduced when SP600125 was present in the culture medium compared with the (A) control group (red, white arrows). (F) The expression of SYCP3 in female germ cells was also dramatically reduced with SP600125 treatment, and meiosis was blocked during early leptotene stage (white arrowheads) compared with the (B) control group (red, white arrows). (C and D) STRA8- and SYCP3-positive germ cells (white arrows) were detected in the testes with RA treatment. (G and H) No STRA8- or SYCP3-positive germ cells (white arrowheads) were noted in the testes with combined RA and SP600125 treatment. (I and J) Quantitative analyses of STRA8- and SYCP3-positive germ cells in control and RA/SP600125-treated ovaries and testes. (K) The mRNA levels of meiotic genes were significantly decreased in SP600125-treated ovaries compared with control ovaries. (L) RA-induced meiotic gene expression in male germ cells was completely blocked by the JNK inhibitor SP600125 treatment. The number of STRA8- and SYCP3-positive germ cells in (O and P) the SP600125-treated testes was dramatically reduced compared with (M and N) the control group. (Q) Quantitative analyses of STRA8- and SYCP3-positive germ cells in control and SP600125-treated testes. (R) The mRNA level of meiotic genes was significantly decreased in SP600125-treated testes compared with control testes. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. ns, p > 0.05, *p < 0.05; and **p < 0.01.