scholarly journals Relationship of Fas ligand expression and atresia during bovine follicle development

Reproduction ◽  
2001 ◽  
pp. 561-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
DA Porter ◽  
RM Harman ◽  
RG Cowan ◽  
SM Quirk
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Immunohistochemical Staining ◽  
Fas Ligand ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Follicle Cell ◽  
Cell Surface Receptor ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Theca Cells ◽  
Mrna Content ◽  
Fasl Mrna

The Fas antigen (Fas) is a cell surface receptor that may be involved in the initiation and progression of follicle cell apoptosis during atresia. Fas initiates apoptosis in sensitive cells after binding Fas ligand (FasL). Other experiments have shown that expression of Fas mRNA and responsiveness to Fas-mediated apoptosis vary in bovine granulosa and theca cells during follicle development. In the present study, FasL mRNA content was measured and Fas and FasL protein expression was examined in bovine granulosa and theca cells of healthy dominant follicles and the two largest atretic subordinate follicles on day 5 of the oestrous cycle (day 0 = oestrus), and of dominant follicles from the first wave of follicle development after they had become atretic and showed no growth for 4 days. FasL mRNA content was higher in granulosa cells from atretic compared with healthy follicles. FasL mRNA content was also higher in theca cells from atretic subordinate compared with healthy dominant follicles on day 5, but did not differ between theca cells from healthy and atretic dominant follicles. Immunohistochemical staining for FasL was more intense in theca compared with granulosa cells and in atretic compared with healthy follicles. Immunohistochemical staining for Fas was more intense in granulosa compared with theca cells and in atretic subordinate compared with healthy dominant follicles on day 5. Immune cells, known to express Fas and FasL, were localized in the theca, but not the granulosa, cell layer of all follicles. Higher concentrations of Fas and FasL in cells from atretic follicles, together with the previous demonstration of increased responsiveness of granulosa cells from subordinate follicles to FasL-induced apoptosis, support a potential role for FasL-mediated apoptosis during ovarian follicle atresia.

509. REGULATING MURINE FOLLICLE DEVELOPMENT BY STIMULATION OF THE JAK2/STAT3 SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION PATHWAY

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
R. A. Keightley ◽  
B. Nixon ◽  
S. D. Roman ◽  
D. L. Russell ◽  
R. L. Robker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Significant Role ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Janus Kinase ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Primordial Follicles ◽  
Stat3 Signalling

Follicular development requires the recruitment of primordial follicles into the growing follicle pool following initiation of multiple cytokine signalling pathways. Suppression of follicular development is thought to be key to maintaining the population of primordial follicles and allowing for controlled release of these follicles throughout the reproductive lifespan of the female. However, little is known of the processes and signalling molecules that suppress primordial follicle activation and early follicle growth. Our group has identified significant upregulation of the Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2)/ Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) signalling pathway inhibitor the Suppressor of Cytokine Signalling 4 (SOCS4) that coincides with the initial wave of follicular activation in theneonatal mouse ovary. Further studies by our group have localised the SOCS4 protein to the granulosa cells of activating and growing follicles, suggesting SOCS4 expression may be linked to follicular activation. We have focused on examining protein localisation and gene expression patterns of the eight SOCS family members CIS and SOCS1-7. We have recently demonstrated that co-culture of neonatal ovaries with Kit Ligand (KL) for 2 days increases the mRNA levels of all SOCS genes. We also demonstrated the co-localisation of SOCS2 proteins with the KL receptor c-kit in the mural granulosa cells of antral, and large pre-antral follicles suggesting a significant role for SOCS2 in the later stages of follicular development. We have also shown that culturing ovaries with the potent JAK2 inhibitor AG490 substantially reduces mRNA levels of all SOCS and STAT genes that we have so far measured. We hypothesise a significant role for JAK2/STAT3 signalling in promoting the activation and early growth of ovarian follicles. Our investigations have identified significant roles for JAK2/STAT3 and the SOCS family in the regulation of ovarian follicle development.

scholarly journals Timely expression and activation of YAP1 in granulosa cells is essential for ovarian follicle development

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 10049-10064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangmin Lv ◽  
Chunbo He ◽  
Cong Huang ◽  
Hongbo Wang ◽  
Guohua Hua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Ovarian Follicle Development

scholarly journals Theca: the forgotten cell of the ovarian follicle

Reproduction ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M Young ◽  
A S McNeilly
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Vascular System ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Theca Cells ◽  
Structural Support ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Thecal Cells

Theca cells function in a diverse range of necessary roles during folliculogenesis; to synthesize androgens, provide crosstalk with granulosa cells and oocytes during development, and provide structural support of the growing follicle as it progresses through the developmental stages to produce a mature and fertilizable oocyte. Thecal cells are thought to be recruited from surrounding stromal tissue by factors secreted from an activated primary follicle. The precise origin and identity of these recruiting factors are currently not clear, but it appears that thecal recruitment and/or differentiation involves not just one signal, but a complex and tightly controlled combination of multiple factors. It is clear that thecal cells are fundamental for follicular growth, providing all the androgens required by the developing follicle(s) for conversion into estrogens by the granulosa cells. Their function is enabled through the establishment of a vascular system providing communication with the pituitary axis throughout the reproductive cycle, and delivering essential nutrients to these highly active cells. During development, the majority of follicles undergo atresia, and the theca cells are often the final follicular cell type to die. For those follicles that do ovulate, the theca cells then undergo hormone-dependent differentiation into luteinized thecal cells of the corpus luteum. While the theca is an essential component of follicle development and ovulation, we do not yet fully understand the control of recruitment and function of theca cells, an important consideration since their function appears to be altered in certain causes of infertility.

scholarly journals Involvement of miRNAs in equine follicle development

Reproduction ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 146 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
S N Schauer ◽  
S D Sontakke ◽  
E D Watson ◽  
C L Esteves ◽  
F X Donadeu
Keyword(s):  
Cell Survival ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Follicular Fluid ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Previous Evidence ◽  
Ovarian Follicle Development ◽  
Fluid Levels ◽  
Follicle Selection

Previous evidence fromin vitrostudies suggests specific roles for a subset of miRNAs, including miR-21, miR-23a, miR-145, miR-503, miR-224, miR-383, miR-378, miR-132, and miR-212, in regulating ovarian follicle development. The objective of this study was to determine changes in the levels of these miRNAs in relation to follicle selection, maturation, and ovulation in the monovular equine ovary. In Experiment 1, follicular fluid was aspirated during ovulatory cycles from the dominant (DO) and largest subordinate (S) follicles of an ovulatory wave and the dominant (DA) follicle of a mid-cycle anovulatory wave (n=6 mares). Follicular fluid levels of progesterone and estradiol were lower (P<0.01) in S follicles than in DO follicles, whereas mean levels of IGF1 were lower (P<0.01) in S and DA follicles than in DO follicles. Relative to DO and DA follicles, S follicles had higher (P≤0.01) follicular fluid levels of miR-145 and miR-378. In Experiment 2, follicular fluid and granulosa cells were aspirated from dominant follicles before (DO) and 24 h after (L) administration of an ovulatory dose of hCG (n=5 mares/group). Relative to DO follicles, L follicles had higher follicular fluid levels of progesterone (P=0.05) and lower granulosa cell levels ofCYP19A1andLHCGR(P<0.005). Levels of miR-21, miR-132, miR-212, and miR-224 were increased (P<0.05) in L follicles; this was associated with reduced expression of the putative miRNA targets,PTEN,RASA1, andSMAD4. These novel results may indicate a physiological involvement of miR-21, miR-145, miR-224, miR-378, miR-132, and miR-212 in the regulation of cell survival, steroidogenesis, and differentiation during follicle selection and ovulation in the monovular ovary.

scholarly journals SMAD3 regulates the diverse functions of rat granulosa cells relating to the FSHR/PKA signaling pathway

Reproduction ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 146 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yexia Li ◽  
Yujie Jin ◽  
Yuxia Liu ◽  
Chunyan Shen ◽  
Jingxia Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Nuclear Antigen ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Ovarian Follicle Development ◽  
Estrogen Production

The function of Smad3, a downstream signaling protein of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) pathway, in ovarian follicle development remains to be elucidated. The effects of Smad3 on ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) in rat were studied. Female rats (21 days of age Sprague–Dawley) received i.p. injections of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, and GCs were harvested for primary culture 48 h later. These cells were engineered to overexpress or knockdown Smad3, which were validated by immunohistochemistry and western blot. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin D2, TGFβ receptor II (TGFβRII), protein kinase A (PKA), and FSH receptor (FSHR) was also detected by western blotting. Cell cycle and apoptosis of GCs were assayed by flow cytometry. The level of estrogen secreted by GCs was detected by ELISA. Smad3 overexpression promoted estrogen production and proliferation while inhibiting apoptosis of GCs. Reduction in Smad3 by RNAi resulted in reduced estrogen production and proliferation and increased apoptosis of GCs. Manipulation of Smad3 expression also resulted in changes in FSHR and PKA expression, suggesting that the effects of Smad3 on follicle development are related to FSHR-mediated cAMP signaling.

scholarly journals Cytokine (IL16) and tyrphostin actions on ovarian primordial follicle development

Reproduction ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 148 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Feeney ◽  
Eric Nilsson ◽  
Michael K Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Primordial Follicle ◽  
Cytokine Signaling ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Primary Follicle ◽  
Primordial Follicles ◽  
Network Analyses

An ovarian follicle is composed of an oocyte and surrounding theca and granulosa cells. Oocytes are stored in an arrested state within primordial follicles until they are signaled to re-initiate development by undergoing primordial-to-primary follicle transition. Previous gene bionetwork analyses of primordial follicle development identified a number of critical cytokine signaling pathways and genes potentially involved in the process. In the current study, candidate regulatory genes and pathways from the gene network analyses were tested for their effects on the formation of primordial follicles (follicle assembly) and on primordial follicle transition using whole ovary organ culture experiments. Observations indicate that the tyrphostin inhibitor (E)-2-benzylidene-3-(cyclohexylamino)-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one increased follicle assembly significantly, supporting a role for the MAPK signaling pathway in follicle assembly. The cytokine interleukin 16 (IL16) promotes primordial-to-primary follicle transition as compared with the controls, where as Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) and WNT-3A treatments have no effect. Immunohistochemical experiments demonstrated the localization of both the cytokine IL16 and its receptor CD4 in the granulosa cells surrounding each oocyte within the ovarian follicle. The tyrphostin LDN193189 (LDN) is an inhibitor of the bone morphogenic protein receptor 1 within the TGFB signaling pathway and was found to promote the primordial-to-primary follicle transition. Observations support the importance of cytokines (i.e., IL16) and cytokine signaling pathways in the regulation of early follicle development. Insights into regulatory factors affecting early primordial follicle development are provided that may associate with ovarian disease and translate to improved therapy in the future.

scholarly journals TMCO1 is essential for ovarian follicle development by regulating ER Ca2+ store of granulosa cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1686-1701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongshuai Sun ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Xi Wang ◽  
Qiao-Chu Wang ◽  
Chuanchao Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Ovarian Follicle ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Ovarian Follicle Development

Follicular somatic cell factors and follicle development

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Buratini ◽  
C. A. Price
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Granulosa Cell ◽  
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ◽  
Granulosa Cells ◽  
Primordial Follicle ◽  
Antral Follicle ◽  
Follicle Development ◽  
Follicle Growth ◽  
Theca Cells ◽  
Secreted Factors

Considerable attention is currently paid to oocyte-derived secreted factors that act upon cumulus and granulosa cells. Also important for follicle development are somatic cell-derived secreted factors. This is illustrated by the ability of granulosa cell-derived Kit ligand (KITL) to promote primordial follicle activation, and the loss of follicle development that accompanies KITL gene disruption. This review summarises our current understanding of somatic cell factors during both preantral and antral follicle growth, involving not only signalling from granulosa cells to the oocyte, but also signalling between granulosa and theca cells. Principal granulosa cell-derived factors include activin, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). Theca cells also secrete BMPs and FGFs. The interplay between these factors is equally important for follicle growth as the activity of oocyte-derived factors.

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