Signal transduction of stem cell factor in promoting early follicle development.
Stem cell factor (SCF), another alternative name is kit ligand, is essential for the development of early follicles. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be defined. By using cultured ovaries that are rich in primordial follicles, the action of SCF (kit ligand) on early follicular development and the activated signal transduction pathways were investigated. SCF (kit ligand) promoted early follicle development. PKC and MEK but not PKA were involved in the signal transduction of SCF (kit ligand) as indicated by results using their specific pharmacological inhibitors. SCF (kit ligand) also enhanced the phosphorylation of two MEK substrates, Erk1 and 2 (Erk1/2) in thecal-interstitial cells where PKC might play an important role indicated by results using its inhibitors. SCF (kit ligand) elevated the expression of steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) in thecal-interstitial cells probably through a pathway that consists of Erk1/2. These results suggest that SCF (kit ligand) promotes follicular growth by stimulating the function of thecal-interstitial cells through the Erk1/2 pathway.
Jin
Xuan
X
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China.
Han
Chun-Sheng
CS
Zhang
Xue-Sen
XS
Yuan
Jin-Xiang
JX
Hu
Zhao-Yuan
ZY
Liu
Yi-Xun
YX
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C515060:steroidogenic factor 1, rat; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3