title: Hormonal regulation of early follicle development in the rat ovary.
abstract: Although earlier studies focused on the hormonal regulation of antral and preovulatory follicles, recent studies indicate the importance of the hormonal control mechanism for preantral follicles. The endocrine hormone FSH is not only a survival factor for early antral follicles but also a potent growth and differentiation factor for preantral follicles. In addition, KGF secreted by theca cells and c-kit ligand secreted by granulosa cells play paracrine roles in the regulation of preantral follicle growth and development. Furthermore oocyte-derived GDF-9 promotes the growth and differentiation of early follicles by acting on somatic cells in the follicle. It is likely that the genetic makeup of an oocyte could determine the secretion of oocyte hormones which would, in turn, regulate the growth and differentiation of the surrounding somatic cells of that follicle. A better understanding of the hormonal mechanisms underlying early follicle development could provide a refined culture system for the in vitro maturation of fertilizable oocytes and future design of fertility and contraceptive agents.
authors.affiliation: Room A344, Division of Reproductive Biology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5317, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: McGee
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055430:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15; D005260:Female; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: C525904:Bmp15 protein, rat; D055430:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15; C496455:Fgf7 protein, rat; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; C525899:Gdf9 protein, rat; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9; D006133:Growth Substances; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone