Rescue of female infertility from the loss of cyclooxygenase-2 by compensatory up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-1 is a function of genetic makeup.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inducible rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin biosynthesis, is implicated in various physiological and pathological processes including female fertility, renal function, angiogenesis, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. We showed previously that targeted deletion of Ptgs2 encoding COX-2, but not Ptgs1 encoding COX-1, in C57BL/6J/129 mice produces complete female infertility resulting from multiple reproductive failures spanning ovulation, fertilization, and implantation. Here we show that Ptgs2 null mice on a CD1 background have dramatically improved female fertility including ovulation, fertilization, and implantation, giving rise to live births. We provide evidence that this improved fertility in CD1 Ptgs2 null mice is the result of a compensatory up-regulation of Ptgs1 which does not occur in C57BL/6J/129 mice missing Ptgs2. These results clearly demonstrate for the first time that COX-1 can replace specific functions of COX-2 in vivo in the context of genetic disparity. In light of this finding, the therapeutic use and efficacy of COX-2-specific inhibitors among human populations without regard for genetic and ethnic diversities should be revisited.