title: Global gene analysis of oocytes from early stages in human folliculogenesis shows high expression of novel genes in reproduction.
abstract: The pool of primordial follicles in humans is laid down during embryonic development and follicles can remain dormant for prolonged intervals, often decades, until individual follicles resume growth. The mechanisms that induce growth and maturation of primordial follicles are poorly understood but follicles once activated either continue growth or undergo atresia. We have isolated pure populations of oocytes from human primordial, intermediate and primary follicles using laser capture micro-dissection microscopy and evaluated the global gene expression profiles by whole-genome microarray analysis. The array data were confirmed by qPCR for selected genes. A total of 6301 unique genes were identified as significantly expressed representing enriched specific functional categories such as 'RNA binding', 'translation initiation' and 'structural molecule activity'. Several genes, some not previously known to be associated with early oocyte development, were identified with exceptionally high expression levels, such as the anti-proliferative transmembrane protein with an epidermal growth factor-like and two follistatin-like domains (TMEFF2), the Rho-GTPase-activating protein oligophrenin 1 (OPHN1) and the mitochondrial-encoded ATPase6 (ATP6). Thus, the present study provides not only a technique to capture and perform transcriptome analysis of the sparse material of human oocytes from the earliest follicle stages but further includes a comprehensive basis for our understanding of the regulatory factors and pathways present during early human folliculogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 3, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Markholt
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Grøndahl
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: C Yding
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lykke-Hartmann
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D061346:Laser Capture Microdissection; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D009865:Oocytes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics*; D059467:Transcriptome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; C501005:MT-ATP6 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C111952:OPHN1 protein, human; C423567:TMEFF2 protein, human; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases