title: Ca(2+) mobilization in cumulus cells: role in oocyte maturation and acrosome reaction.
abstract: The cumulus mass is a group of cells surrounding the oocyte. Cumulus cells are known to play a role in a number of reproductive events including oocyte maturation and acrosome reaction. Calcium mobilization in cumulus cells has been implicated in the process of oocyte maturation and acrosome reaction; however, its exact role remains elusive. In this review, we summarize the findings on Ca(2+) mobilization in cumulus cells, with particular focus on (1) the gonadotropin/paracrine factors-induced cumulus Ca(2+) mobilization and its downstream signaling pathways in oocyte maturation and (2) the sperm-derived factors-induced cumulus Ca(2+) mobilization in the cross-talk between cumulus and sperm and thus acrosome reaction. The evidence suggests that as an important signaling event, Ca(2+) mobilization in cumulus cells is important to germ cell development and function, and thus essential to fertilization and reproduction.
authors.affiliation: Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kui
authors.forename: Hsiao Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction; D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005306:Fertilization; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins