ovarian follicle development
Recently Published Documents


TOTAL DOCUMENTS

209
(FIVE YEARS 48)

H-INDEX

39
(FIVE YEARS 3)

2022 ◽  
Vol 231 ◽  
pp. 113178
Author(s):  
Mingjun Yang ◽  
Fang Tian ◽  
Shimin Tao ◽  
Minjie Xia ◽  
Yuzhu Wang ◽  
...  

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chirine Toufaily ◽  
Jérôme Fortin ◽  
Carlos AI Alonso ◽  
Evelyne Lapointe ◽  
Xiang Zhou ◽  
...  

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the primary neuropeptide controlling reproduction in vertebrates. GnRH stimulates follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) synthesis via a G protein-coupled receptor, GnRHR, in the pituitary gland. In mammals, GnRHR lacks a C-terminal cytosolic tail (Ctail) and does not exhibit homologous desensitization. This might be an evolutionary adaptation that enables LH surge generation and ovulation. To test this idea, we fused the chicken GnRHR Ctail to the endogenous murine GnRHR in a transgenic model. The LH surge was blunted, but not blocked in these mice. In contrast, they showed reductions in FSH production, ovarian follicle development, and fertility. Addition of the Ctail altered the nature of agonist-induced calcium signaling required for normal FSH production. The loss of the GnRHR Ctail during mammalian evolution is unlikely to have conferred a selective advantage by enabling the LH surge. The adaptive significance of this specialization remains to be determined.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang E. ◽  
He Zhang ◽  
Wanli Yin ◽  
Chongyang Wang ◽  
Yuanli Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractPremature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a heterogeneous and multifactorial disorder. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in research on the pathogenesis and treatment of POI, owing to the implementation of the second-child policy in China. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 3 (CPEB3) is an RNA-binding protein that can bind to specific RNA sequences. CPEB3 can bind to and affect the expression, cellular location, and stability of target RNAs. Cpeb3 is highly expressed in the ovary; however, its functions remain unknown. In this study, Cpeb3-mutant mice were used to characterize the physiological functions of CPEB3. Cpeb3-mutant female mice manifested signs of gradual loss of ovarian follicles, ovarian follicle development arrest, increased follicle atresia, and subfertility with a phenotype analogous to POI in women. Further analysis showed that granulosa cell proliferation was inhibited and apoptosis was markedly increased in Cpeb3-mutant ovaries. In addition, the expression of Gdf9, a potential target of CPEB3, was decreased in Cpeb3-mutant ovaries and oocytes. Altogether, these results reveal that CPEB3 is essential for ovarian follicle development and female fertility as it regulates the expression of Gdf9 in oocytes, disruption of which leads to impaired ovarian follicle development and POI.


BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Sun ◽  
Xiaoxia Chen ◽  
Jinghua Zhao ◽  
Chang Ma ◽  
Chunchi Yan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Ovarian follicle development plays an important role in determination of poultry egg production. The follicles at the various developmental stages possess their own distinct molecular genetic characteristics and have different biological roles in chicken ovary development and function. In the each stage, several genes of follicle-specific expression and biological pathways are involved in the vary-sized follicular development and physiological events. Identification of the pivotal genes and signaling pathways that control the follicular development is helpful for understanding their exact regulatory functions and molecular mechanisms underlying egg-laying traits of laying hens. Results The comparative mRNA transcriptomic analysis of ovarian follicles at three key developmental stages including slow growing white follicles (GWF), small yellow follicles (SYF) of recruitment into the hierarchy, and differentiated large yellow follicles (LYF), was accomplished in the layers with lower and higher egg production. Totally, 137, 447, and 229 of up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and 99, 97, and 157 of down-regulated DEGs in the GWF, SYF and LYF follicles, including VIPR1, VIPR2, ADRB2, and HSD17B1 were identified, respectively. Moreover, NDUFAB1 and GABRA1 genes, two most promising candidates potentially associated with egg-laying performance were screened out from the 13 co-expressed DEGs in the GWF, SYF and LYF samples. We further investigated the biological effects of NDUFAB1 and GABRA1 on ovarian follicular development and found that NDUFAB1 promotes follicle development by stimulating granulosa cell (GC) proliferation and decreasing cell apoptosis, increases the expression of CCND1 and BCL-2 but attenuates the expression of caspase-3, and facilitates steroidogenesis by enhancing the expression of STAR and CYP11A1. In contrast, GABRA1 inhibits GC proliferation and stimulates cell apoptosis, decreases the expression of CCND1, BCL-2, STAR, and CYP11A1 but elevates the expression of caspase-3. Furthermore, the three crucial signaling pathways such as PPAR signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction were significantly enriched, which may play essential roles in ovarian follicle growth, differentiation, follicle selection, and maturation. Conclusions The current study provided new molecular data for insight into the regulatory mechanism underlying ovarian follicle development associated with egg production in chicken.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liyuan Li ◽  
Xiaojin Shi ◽  
Yun Shi ◽  
Zhao Wang

The follicle is the functional unit of the ovary, which is composed of three types of cells: oocytes, granulosa cells, and theca cells. Ovarian follicle development and the subsequent ovulation process are coordinated by highly complex interplay between endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine signals, which coordinate steroidogenesis and gametogenesis. Follicle development is regulated mainly by three organs, the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and gonad, which make up the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Steroid hormones and their receptors play pivotal roles in follicle development and participate in a series of classical signaling pathways. In this review, we summarize and compare the role of classical signaling pathways, such as the WNT, insulin, Notch, and Hedgehog pathways, in ovarian follicle development and the underlying regulatory mechanism. We have also found that these four signaling pathways all interact with FOXO3, a transcription factor that is widely known to be under control of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and has been implicated as a major signaling pathway in the regulation of dormancy and initial follicular activation in the ovary. Although some of these interactions with FOXO3 have not been verified in ovarian follicle cells, there is a high possibility that FOXO3 plays a core role in follicular development and is regulated by classical signaling pathways. In this review, we present these signaling pathways from a comprehensive perspective to obtain a better understanding of the follicular development process.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chirine Toufaily ◽  
Jerome Fortin ◽  
Carlos A.I. Alonso ◽  
Evelyne Lapointe ◽  
Xiang Zhou ◽  
...  

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the primary neuropeptide controlling reproduction in vertebrates. GnRH stimulates follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) synthesis via a G protein-coupled receptor, GnRHR, in the pituitary gland. In mammals, GnRHR lacks a C-terminal cytosolic tail (Ctail) and does not exhibit homologous desensitization. This might be an evolutionary adaptation that enables LH surge generation and ovulation. To test this idea, we fused the chicken GnRHR Ctail to the endogenous murine GnRHR in a transgenic model. The LH surge was blunted, but not blocked in these mice. In contrast, they showed reductions in FSH production, ovarian follicle development, and fertility. Addition of the Ctail altered the nature of agonist-induced calcium signaling required for normal FSH production. The loss of the GnRHR Ctail during mammalian evolution is unlikely to have conferred a selective advantage by enabling the LH surge. The adaptive significance of this specialization remains to be determined.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collins Amponsah Asiamah ◽  
Yuanbo Liu ◽  
Rungen Ye ◽  
Yiting Pan ◽  
Li-li Lu ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundEstrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) plays significant biological roles in the reproductive system and ovarian follicle development. This study, therefore, aimed to reveal the expression pattern and cell-specific localization of ESR2 in the ovarian follicles of Leizhou black ducks. MethodFour laying Leizhou black ducks at 43 weeks old were annihilated and different grade-sized follicles were collected for immunohistochemistry and expression profile study. The follicles were grouped into seven (7) as small white follicles (SWF), large white follicles (LWF), small yellow follicles (SYF), large yellow follicles (LYF), follicle 5 (F5), follicle 2 (F2), and follicle 1 (F1). ResultsThe qRT/PCR results displayed that ESR2 mRNA was expressed in all follicles with the highest (P < 0.05) level of expression found in F1 compared to other follicles. Immunohistochemistry analysis of the cell-specific localization of ESR2 protein revealed that ESR2 was distributed in both granulosa and theca cells region in all the follicles examined. There was a significantly higher localization of ESR2 protein in the granulosa cells than the theca cells of SWF, SYF, LYF, F2, and F1. Comparatively, ESR2 was highly expressed in the granulosa cells of LYF than in all the other follicles. ConclusionThese results provide theoretical knowledge for the in-depth study of the related biological functions of the ESR2 gene and its application at the cellular level.


eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Chen ◽  
Fangfang Dong ◽  
Min Chen ◽  
Zhiming Shen ◽  
Haowei Wu ◽  
...  

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (Prmt5) is the major type II enzyme responsible for symmetric dimethylation of arginine. Here, we found that PRMT5 was expressed at high level in ovarian granulosa cells of growing follicles. Inactivation of Prmt5 in granulosa cells resulted in aberrant follicle development and female infertility. In Prmt5-knockout mice, follicle development was arrested with disorganized granulosa cells in which WT1 expression was dramatically reduced and the expression of steroidogenesis-related genes was significantly increased. The premature differentiated granulosa cells were detached from oocytes and follicle structure was disrupted. Mechanism studies revealed that Wt1 expression was regulated by PRMT5 at the protein level. PRMT5 facilitated IRES-dependent translation of Wt1 mRNA by methylating HnRNPA1. Moreover, the upregulation of steroidogenic genes in Prmt5-deficient granulosa cells was repressed by Wt1 overexpression. These results demonstrate that PRMT5 participates in granulosa cell lineage maintenance by inducing Wt1 expression. Our study uncovers a new role of post-translational arginine methylation in granulosa cell differentiation and follicle development.


Author(s):  
Robert T Rydze ◽  
Bethany Patton ◽  
Shawn M Briley ◽  
Hannia Salazar-Torralba ◽  
Gregory Gipson ◽  
...  

Abstract Members of the differential screening-selected gene aberrative in neuroblastoma (DAN) protein family are developmentally conserved extracellular binding proteins that antagonize bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. This protein family includes the Gremlin proteins, GREM1 and GREM2, which have key functions during embryogenesis and adult physiology. While BMPs play essential roles in ovarian follicle development, the role of the DAN family in female reproductive physiology is less understood. We generated mice null for Grem2 to determine its role in female reproduction in addition to screening patients with primary ovarian insufficiency for variants in GREM2. Grem2−/− mice are viable, but female Grem2−/− mice have diminished fecundity and irregular estrous cycles. This is accompanied by significantly reduced production of ovarian anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) from small growing follicles, leading to a significant decrease in serum AMH. Surprisingly, as AMH is a well-established marker of the ovarian reserve, morphometric analysis of ovarian follicles showed maintenance of primordial follicles in Grem2−/− mice like wild type littermates. While Grem2 mRNA transcripts were not detected in the pituitary, Grem2 is expressed in hypothalami of wild type female mice, suggesting the potential for dysfunction in multiple tissues composing the hypothalamic–pituitary-ovarian axis that contribute to the subfertility phenotype. Additionally, screening 106 women with primary ovarian insufficiency identified one individual with a heterozygous variant in GREM2 that lies within the predicted BMP-GREM2 interface. In total, these data suggest Grem2 is necessary for female fecundity by playing a novel role in regulating the HPO axis and contributing to female reproductive disease.


Reproduction ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Guzmán ◽  
Camilla H.k. Hughes ◽  
Bruce D. Murphy

Orphan nuclear receptors (ONRs) are a subset of the nuclear receptor family that lack known endogenous ligands. Among 48 nuclear receptors identified in humans, 25 are classified as ONRs. They function as transcription factors and control expression of a wide range of genes to regulate metabolism, fertility, immunity, angiogenesis, and many other functions. Angiogenic factors are essential during ovarian follicle development, including follicle growth and ovulation,. Correct development of blood vessels contributes to preantral and antral follicular development, selection of the dominant follicle or follicles, follicular atresia, and ovulation. Although progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate follicular angiogenesis, the role of ONRs as regulators is not clear. Based on their functions in other tissues, the ONRs NR1D1 (REV-ERBß), NR2C2 (TR4), NR2F2 (COUP-TF-II) and NR3B1, 2, and 3 (ERRα, ERRß and ERRγ) may modulate angiogenesis during antral follicle development. We hypothesize that this is achieved by effects on the expression and function of VEGFA, ANGPT1, THBS1, and soluble VEGFR1. Further, angiogenesis during ovulation is expected to be influenced by ONRs. NR5A2 (LRH-1), which is required for ovulation, regulates angiogenic genes in the ovary, including VEGFA and the upstream regulator of angiogenesis, PGE2. These angiogenic molecules may also be regulated by NR5A1 (SF-1). Evidence from outside the reproductive tract suggests that NR2F2 and NR4A1(NUR77) promote VEGFC and PGF respectively and NR4As (ΝUR77, NOR1) seem to be necessary for the angiogenic effects of VEGFA and PGE2. Together, the data suggest that ONRs are important regulators of follicular angiogenesis.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document