title: Activin A accelerates the progression of fetal oocytes throughout meiosis and early oogenesis in the mouse.
abstract: Activins can exert several roles in ovary development. However, little is known about their involvement in early mammalian oogenesis. In this study, we reported that activin receptors (including ActRIA, ActRIB, ActRIIA, and ActRIIB) are expressed throughout the development of the mouse ovaries from 12.5 days postcoitum (dpc) to 21 days postparturition (dpp). Moreover, we found that in vitro, the addition of activin A (ActA) to the culture medium of 12.5 dpc ovarian tissues accelerated the progression of oocytes throughout meiotic prophase I stages. This result was reproduced in vivo following administration of ActA to pregnant mice. The in vitro effect of ActA was associated with increased expression of premeiotic and meiotic genes (including Dazl, Spo11, Stra8, Scp3, and Rec8) in the ovarian tissues. Mechanistically, ActA-dependent SMAD3 signaling modulated the expression of members of the retinoic acid (RA) system, including the RA degradation CYP26B1 enzyme and the RA receptors. Finally, ActA promoted the survival and growth of fetal and early postnatal oocytes and primordial follicle assembly both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, the present study identifies new roles of ActA in early oogenesis and suggested that ActA and RA might cooperate in promoting meiosis in female germ cells.
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .|2 Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .
authors.forename: Gui-Jin
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .|2 Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .
authors.forename: Xi-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .|2 Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .
authors.forename: Jun-Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .|2 Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .
authors.forename: Yuan-Chao
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .|3 College of Life Science, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .|2 Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .
authors.forename: Shun-Feng
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .|2 Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata , Rome, Italy .
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Felici
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Reproductive Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .|2 Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University , Qingdao, China .
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D008540:Meiosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins