Adiponectin Deficiency Leads to Female Subfertility and Ovarian Dysfunctions in Mice

Adipose tissue plays an important role in regulating female fertility, owing to not only its energy stores but also the endocrine actions of secreted adipokines. As one of the adipokines, adiponectin is almost exclusively secreted from the fat, and its circulating concentration is paradoxically reduced in obesity. Although recent studies implied a purported positive role of adiponectin in ovarian functions, definitive in vivo evidence has been sorely lacking. We have consistently observed subfertility in female adiponectin null mice and therefore postulated a protective role of adiponectin in ovarian functions. Female adiponectin null mice displayed impaired fertility, reduced retrieval of oocytes, disrupted estrous cycle, elevated number of atretic follicles, and impaired late folliculogenesis. Analysis of their sera revealed a significant decrease in estradiol and FSH but an increase in LH and testosterone at proestrus. In addition, we found marked reduction of progesterone levels at diestrus, a significant decrease in LH receptor expression as well as in the number of GnRH immunoreactive neurons. Adiponectin deficiency also altered the peak concentrations of LH surge and led to lower expression of Cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1 (P450scc), an enzyme critical for progesterone synthesis, as well as an increase in BCL2 associated X, apoptosis regulator and Insulin like growth factor binding protein 4 in atretic follicles. These physiological and molecular events were independent of insulin sensitivity. Thus, we have revealed a novel mechanism linking adiponectin and female fertility that entails regulation of reproductive hormone balance and ovarian follicle development.