Table 6.
Murine model of transcription factors expressed in the gonads and their possible effect on fertility [29].
| Expressed preferentially in germ cells | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gene | Number | Mouse knockout phenotype |
| Figα | Factor in the germline alpha | Infertility, oocyte loss at postnatal day 2 |
| Nobox (Og2x) | Newborn ovary homebox | Infertility, oocyte loss at postnatal day 14, disrupted primordial to primary transition |
| Oct4 (Pou5fl) | POU domain, class 5, transcription factor | Maintenance of primordial germ cells |
| Taf4b (TAFIII05) | TATA box binding protein-associated factor 4b | Infertility, folliculogenesis blocked at preantral stage |
| Expressed in the granulosa and somatic cells of the ovary | ||
| Foxo3a | Forkhead box O3a | Initially fertile, infertility at 15 weeks, progressive loss of viable follicles, with total loss at 18 weeks |
| Fox12 | Forkhead box L2 | Infertility, block at the primordial and primary follicle stage |
| Sox3 | Sry-box containing gene 3 | Infertile mice with normal follicular development, unclear defect |
| Sf1 (Nr5a1) | Nuclear receptor subfamily 5, group A, member 1 | 1. conditional knock out infertile, ovary develops, antral follicles form, absent corpora lutea |
| Lrh-1 (Nr5a2) | Nuclear receptor subfamily 5, group A, member 2 | Mice die by E6.5–E7.5 |
| Wt1 | Wilms tumor homologue | Gonads degenerate by E12.5, similar to Sf1 |
| Lhx9 | LIM homeobox protein 9 | Gonads fail to proliferate by E11.5, primordial germ cell migration unaffected |
| Emx2 | Empty spiracles homologue 2 | Mice die soon after birth and lack kidneys, ureters and gonads. Primordial germ cells migrate normally |