Genetic manipulation of microRNA-7a2 in the hypothalamus and pituitary reveals a temporally dynamic role in prolactin regulation

MicroRNA-7 is an evolutionarily conserved, neuroendocrine tissue-enriched microRNA family. We have previously reported that mice lacking a single miR-7 family member, miR-7a2, exhibit hypopituitarism with a specific loss of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin (PRL), accompanied by hypogonadism and infertility. Here, we use conditional loss-of-function and gain-of-function mouse models to characterize the cell-type specific roles of miR-7a2 in hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-producing neurons and in pituitary lactotroph cells.