Fertility and pregnancy-associated ß-cell proliferation in mice deficient in proglucagon-derived peptides

PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e43745. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043745. Epub 2012 Aug 23.

Abstract

Proglucagon, which is encoded by the glucagon gene (Gcg), is the precursor of several peptide hormones, including glucagon and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). Whereas glucagon stimulates hepatic glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion to lower blood glucose and also supports ß-cell proliferation and protection from apoptotic stimuli. Pregnancy is a strong inducer of change in islet function, however the roles of proglucagon-derived peptides in pregnancy are only partially understood. In the present study, we analyzed fertility and pregnancy-associated changes in homozygous glucagon-green fluorescent protein (gfp) knock-in mice (Gcg(gfp/gfp)), which lack all the peptides derived from proglucagon. Female Gcg(gfp/gfp) mice could deliver and raise Gcg(gfp/gfp) pups to weaning and Gcg(gfp/gfp) pups from Gcg(gfp/gfp) dams were viable and fertile. Pregnancy induced ß-cell proliferation in Gcg(gfp/gfp) mice as well as in control mice. However, serum insulin levels in pregnant Gcg(gfp/gfp) females were lower than those in control pregnant females under ad libitum feeding, and blood glucose levels in pregnant Gcg(gfp/gfp) females were higher after gestational day 12. Gcg(gfp/gfp) females showed a decreased pregnancy rate and smaller litter size. The rate of successful breeding was significantly lower in Gcg(gfp/gfp) females and was not improved by experience of breeding. Taken together, proglucagon-derived peptides are not required for pregnancy-associated ß-cell proliferation, however, are required for regulation of blood glucose levels and normal reproductive capacity. Gcg(gfp/gfp) mice may serve as a novel model to analyze the effect of mild hyperglycemia during late gestational periods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Size
  • Female
  • Fertility*
  • Gene Knock-In Techniques
  • Genotype
  • Insulin / blood
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / cytology*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Pregnancy
  • Proglucagon / chemistry*
  • Proglucagon / genetics
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Insulin
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Proglucagon

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (21659232 to Y. H.) and a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (23122507 to Y. H.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.