Effetti della mancanza dell'enzima HSD17B7 nelle ovaie sullo sviluppo del sistema riproduttivo e sulla maturità sessuale

The hydroxysteroid (17β) dehydrogenases (HSD17B) type 7 (HSD17B7) is involved in in vivo conversion of zymosterone to zymosterol, an essential reaction in the cholesterol biosynthesis, and in in vitro conversion of estrone to estradiol. While the relevance in in vivo cholesterol biosynthesis is clear in transgenic mouse models (homozygous HSD17B7 mutant mice are embryonic lethal), its role in in vivo estradiol production remains to be further clarified. The objective of the present study is to additionally analyse the in vivo role of human HSD17B7 in the ovaries. The chosen approach was an analysis of transgenic (TG) mice lacking HSD17B7 specifically in ovaries. The lack of HSD17B7 in ovaries appears to be not significant regarding the physiological development of the reproductive system and the sexual maturity. More studies need to be conducted to further clarify the role of HSD17B7 in ovaries.