Estrogen related receptor beta (
ERR-beta) is an
orphan nuclear receptor specifically expressed in a subset of extra-embryonic ectoderm of post-implantation embryos.
ERR-beta is essential for placental development since the
ERR-beta null mutants die
at 10.5dpc due to the placenta abnormality. Here, we show that the
ERR-beta is specifically expressed in primordial germ cells (PGC), obviously another important cell type for reproduction. Expression of the
ERR-beta mRNA in embryonic germ cells started at E11.5 as soon as PGC reached genital ridges, and persisted until E15-E16 in both sexes. Immunostaining with anti-
ERR-beta antibody revealed that the
ERR-beta protein is exclusively expressed in germ cells in both male and female gonads from E11.5 to E16. 5. To study function of the
ERR-beta in PGC, we complemented placental defects of the
ERR-beta null mutants with wild-type
tetraploid embryos, and analyzed germ cell development in the rescued embryos. It was found that development of gonad and PGC was not apparently affected, but number of germ cells was significantly reduced in male and female gonads, suggesting that the
ERR-beta appears to be involved in proliferation of gonadal germ cells. The rescued embryos could develop to term and grow up to adulthood. The rescued
ERR-beta null male were found to be fertile, but both male and female null mutants exhibited behavioural abnormalities, implying that the
ERR-beta plays important roles in wider biological processes than previously thought.