Sensory neuron LKB1 mediates ovarian and reproductive function

Treatments for reproductive disorders in women primarily consist of hormone replacement therapy, which can have negative health impacts. Bidirectional communication between sensory neurons and innervated organs is an emerging area of interest in tissue physiology with potential relevance for reproductive disorders. Indeed, the metabolic activity of sensory neurons can have profound effects on reproductive phenotypes. To investigate this phenomenon, we utilized a murine model with conditional deletion in sensory neurons of liver kinase B1 (LKB1), a serine/threonine kinase that regulates cellular metabolism. Female mice with this LKB1 deletion (Nav1.8cre;LKB1fl/fl) had significantly more pups per litter compared to wild-type females. Interestingly, the LKB1 genotype of male breeders had no effect on fertility outcomes, thus indicating a female-specific role of sensory neuron metabolism in fertility. LKB1 deletion in sensory neurons resulted in reduced ovarian innervation from dorsal root ganglia neurons and increased follicular turnover compared to littermate controls. In summary, LKB1 expression in peripheral sensory neurons plays an important role in modulating fertility of female mice via ovarian sensory innervation.