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Centromere protein b-null mice display decreasing reproductive performance through successive generations of breeding due to diminishing endometrial glands

¹ Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia, ² Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Australia and ³ DAKO Australia, 12 Lord Street, Botany, NSW 2019, Australia

Correspondence should be addressed to K J Fowler; Email: kerry.fowler{at}mcri.edu.au

Centromere protein B is a highly conserved constitutive protein found at centromeres. Gene knockout studies in mice have unexpectedly identified Cenpb as a candidate gene involved in uterine function. The present study further explores the role of Cenpb in mice by intermating Cenpb-null mice over several generations. Breeding studies and analysis of uterine tissue indicate that Cenpb-null mice lose reproductive fitness over a number of generations due to a significant reduction in endometrial glands. These results suggest that Cenpb may play an important function in the short- and long-term maintenance of uterine integrity.