title: Oocytes determine cumulus cell lineage in mouse ovarian follicles.
abstract: The two principal functions of ovarian follicles are developmental and endocrine. The cumulus cells surrounding the oocyte are specialized to serve the development of the oocyte and steroidogenesis is a principal role of mural granulosa cells that line the follicle wall. The findings in this report demonstrate that oocytectomy or treatment with an inhibitor of SMAD2/3 activation results in decreased cumulus marker mRNA transcript levels and allows FSH to induce mural marker transcripts in cumulus cells. In addition, SMAD2/3 signaling is involved in enabling cumulus expansion and EGF-induced increases in Ptx3, Ptgs2 and Has2 mRNA levels. By contrast, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulated expression of mural transcripts, but suppressed levels of cumulus transcripts. Thus, FSH and oocyte-stimulated SMAD2/3 signaling establish opposing gradients of influence in the follicle. These specify the mural and cumulus granulosa cell phenotypes that are pivotal for appropriate endocrine function and oocyte development.
authors: The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA.
authors: Francisco J
authors: FJ
authors: Diaz
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Wigglesworth
authors: John J
authors: JJ
authors: Eppig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C459179:4-(5-benzo(1,3)dioxol-5-yl-4-pyridin-2-yl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzamide; D001549:Benzamides; D004149:Dioxoles; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051899:Smad2 Protein