title: MAPK3/1 (ERK1/2) in ovarian granulosa cells are essential for female fertility.
abstract: A surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland triggers ovulation, oocyte maturation, and luteinization for successful reproduction in mammals. Because the signaling molecules RAS and ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2) are activated by an LH surge in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles, we disrupted Erk1/2 in mouse granulosa cells and provide in vivo evidence that these kinases are necessary for LH-induced oocyte resumption of meiosis, ovulation, and luteinization. In addition, biochemical analyses and selected disruption of the Cebpb gene in granulosa cells demonstrate that C/EBPbeta (CCAAT/Enhancer-binding protein-beta) is a critical downstream mediator of ERK1/2 activation. Thus, ERK1/2 and C/EBPbeta constitute an in vivo LH-regulated signaling pathway that controls ovulation- and luteinization-related events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Heng-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Zhilin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Esta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sterneck
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hedrick
authors.forename: Joanne S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008540:Meiosis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology; D010060:Ovulation; D010766:Phosphorylation
chemical_list: D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3