title: The fibroblast growth factor family: involvement in the regulation of folliculogenesis.
abstract: Several growth factors have been identified as local regulators of follicle development and ovulation. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family members are potent mitogens and are involved in cell differentiation, cell migration and angiogenesis in many tissues and organs. In addition to FGF-2, which is the most-studied FGF, other important members are FGF-1, -5, -7, -8, -9 and -10. A number of studies have indicated that FGFs play important roles in regulating the initiation of primordial follicle growth, oocyte and follicle survival, granulosa and theca cell proliferation and differentiation, corpus luteum formation, steroidogenesis and angiogenesis. The purpose of this review is to highlight the importance of the FGFs on mammalian female reproduction, providing a better understanding of the roles of this family in ovarian physiology and female fertility.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Manipulation of Oocytes and Preantral Follicles, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60740-903, CE, Brazil. rncvet@gmail.com
authors.forename: Roberta Nogueira
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Maria Helena Tavares
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: de Matos
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buratini
authors.forename: José Ricardo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: de Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D010060:Ovulation; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors