MAPK3/1 (ERK1/2) in ovarian granulosa cells are essential for female fertility.
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.
Fan
Heng-Yu
HY
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Liu
Zhilin
Z
Shimada
Masayuki
M
Sterneck
Esta
E
Johnson
Peter F
PF
Hedrick
Stephen M
SM
Richards
Joanne S
JS
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
D022782:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3