title: Oocyte-granulosa cell interactions during mouse follicular development: regulation of kit ligand expression and its role in oocyte growth.
abstract: Ovarian folliculogenesis is regulated by both endocrine and intraovarian mechanisms that coordinate the processes of oocyte growth and somatic cell proliferation and differentiation. Within the follicle, paracrine interactions between the oocyte and surrounding granulosa cells are critical for normal cell development and function. This review focuses on the role of paracrine interactions during early oocyte and follicular development that ensure proper coordination of oocyte and somatic cell function. Particular emphasis is given to granulosa cell-derived Kit Ligand (KitL), whose functional importance for oocyte growth has been demonstrated by a wide range of in vivo and in vitro studies. Reported interactions between KitL and oocyte-derived growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP15) suggest the molecular basis of oocyte-granulosa cell interactions, but also hint at the complexity of these communications. These paracrine interactions and the structure of the oocyte-granulosa cell interface are follicle stage-specific and regulated by FSH. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that promote the development of healthy oocytes with good developmental competence has potential applications for improving fertility and for in vitro growth systems for oocytes from domestic animals and humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, Ottawa Health Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada. fh.thomas@gmail.com
authors.forename: Fiona H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Barbara C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Vanderhyden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055430:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C525901:BMP15 protein, human; C525902:Bmp15 protein, mouse; C525904:Bmp15 protein, rat; D055430:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15; C525897:GDF9 protein, human; C525898:Gdf9 protein, mouse; C525899:Gdf9 protein, rat; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit