title: Local regulatory effects of activin A and follistatin on meiotic maturation of rat oocytes.
abstract: Activin A and follistatin identified in follicular fluids have been shown to regulate follicular development. Activin A, in a dose responsive manner, increased the percentage of germinal vesicle breakdown that served as a marker for the resumption of meiosis of oocytes in vitro, especially these obtained from immature follicles. This effect of activin A was inhibited by the activin-binding protein, follistatin. Follistatin alone exerted an inhibitory effect on oocyte maturation. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction revealed the expression of activin beta A and activin type IIA receptor gene transcripts in the oocytes. Activin A, along with follistatin, appears to play a local regulatory role in the meiotic maturation of rat oocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadatsuki
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tsutsumi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muramatsu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taketani
mesh_terms: D029404:Activin Receptors; D028341:Activins; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D038681:Follistatin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008540:Meiosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D038681:Follistatin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins; D029404:Activin Receptors