Regulation of ovulation rate in mammals: contribution of sheep genetic models.
Ovarian folliculogenesis in mammals from the constitution of primordial follicles up to ovulation is a reasonably well understood mechanism. Nevertheless, underlying mechanisms that determine the number of ovulating follicles were enigmatic until the identification of the fecundity genes affecting ovulation rate in sheep, bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15), growth and differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) and BMP receptor-1B (BMPR-1B). In this review, we focus on the use of these sheep genetic models for understanding the role of the BMP system as an intra-ovarian regulator of follicular growth and maturation, and finally, ovulation rate.
Fabre
Stéphane
S
INRA, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR 6175 INRA-CNRS-Université de Tours-Haras Nationaux, 37380 Nouzilly, France. Stephane.Fabre@tours.inra.fr
Pierre
Alice
A
Mulsant
Philippe
P
Bodin
Loys
L
Di Pasquale
Elisa
E
Persani
Luca
L
Monget
Philippe
P
Monniaux
Danielle
D
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000235:genetics*