title: Mechanisms maintaining the dormancy and survival of mammalian primordial follicles.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pradeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins