Loss of HDAC3 contributes to meiotic defects in aged oocytes

Maternal age-related decline in oocyte quality is associated with meiotic defects, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be explored. Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) has been shown to govern multiple cellular events via deacetylating diverse substrates. We previously found that HDAC3 could promote meiotic apparatus assembly in mouse oocytes. In the present study, we identified a substantial reduction in HDAC3 protein in oocytes from old mice. Importantly, overexpression of HDAC3 in old oocytes not only partially prevents spindle/chromosome disorganization, but also significantly lowers the incidence of aneuploidy. Meanwhile, we noticed the elevated acetylation level of alpha-tubulin in oocytes derived from old mice. By employing site-directed mutagenesis, we showed that acetylation-mimetic mutant tubulin-K40Q disrupts the kinetochore-microtubule attachments and results in the assembly failure of meiotic apparatus in mouse oocytes. Importantly, forced expression of tubulin-K40R (nonacetylatable-mimetic mutant) was capable of alleviating the defective phenotypes of oocytes from aged mice. To sum up, this study uncovers that loss of HDAC3 represents one potential mechanism mediating the effects of advanced maternal age on oocyte quality.