Mechanisms maintaining the dormancy and survival of mammalian primordial follicles.
To preserve the length of a woman's reproductive life it is essential that the majority of her ovarian primordial follicles are maintained in a quiescent state to provide a reserve for continuous reproductive success. The mechanisms maintaining the dormancy and survival of primordial follicles have been a mystery for decades. In recent years information provided by genetically modified mouse models has revealed a number of molecules whose functions are indispensable for the maintenance of follicular quiescence (including PTEN, Tsc1, Tsc2, Foxo3a, p27) and survival (PI3K signaling). Here we summarize this updated information, which hopefully will lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the human ovary and provide potential therapeutic options for some types of infertility.
Reddy
Pradeep
P
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
Zheng
Wenjing
W
Liu
Kui
K
D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D018816:Genes, cdc / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins