| First Author | Rajkovic A | Year | 2004 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 305 |
| Issue | 5687 | Pages | 1157-9 |
| PubMed ID | 15326356 | Mgi Jnum | J:92421 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3052602 | Doi | 10.1126/science.1099755 |
| Citation | Rajkovic A, et al. (2004) NOBOX deficiency disrupts early folliculogenesis and oocyte-specific gene expression. Science 305(5687):1157-9 |
| abstractText | Primordial ovarian follicles in mice form when somatic cells surround individual oocytes. We show that lack of Nobox, an oocyte-specific homeobox gene, accelerates postnatal oocyte loss and abolishes the transition from primordial to growing follicles in mice. Follicles are replaced by fibrous tissue in female mice lacking Nobox in a manner similar to nonsyndromic ovarian failure in women. Genes preferentially expressed in oocytes, including Oct4 and Gdf9, are down-regulated in Nobox-/- mice, whereas ubiquitous genes such as Bmp4, Kit, and Bax remain unaffected. Therefore, Nobox is critical for specifying an oocyte-restricted gene expression pattern essential for postnatal follicle development. |
