Mitochondrial Stress Response Gene Clpp Is Not Required for Granulosa Cell Function

Mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR(mt)) is a highly conserved mechanism, which is activated upon cellular or metabolic stress and aims to help cells maintain homeostasis. CLPP (caseinolytic peptidase P) plays a crucial factor for UPR(mt); it promotes the degradation of unfolded mitochondrial proteins. Global germline deletion of Clpp in mice results in female infertility and accelerated follicular depletion. Here, we asked whether CLPP is necessary for granulosa/cumulus cell function. Clpp(flox/flox) mice were generated and crossbred with Cyp19a1-Cre mice to generate mice with granulosa/cumulus cell-specific Clpp deletion (Clpp(−/−)). Mature (8-week-old) Clpp(−/−) female mice (8-week-old) were compared to same age wild type (WT) mice. We found that mature Clpp(−/−) female mice were fertile and produced a similar number of pups per litter compared to WT. Folliculogenesis was not affected by the loss of CLPP in granulosa/cumulus cells as Clpp(−/−) and WT mice had a similar number of primordial, primary, secondary, early antral, and antral follicles. The number of germinal vesicles (GV) and MII oocytes collected from Clpp(−/−) and WT female mice were also similar. Our findings demonstrate that fertility in female mice is not affected by granulosa/cumulus cell-specific UPR(mt) disruption through CLPP deletion.