| First Author | Diaz FJ | Year | 2007 |
| Journal | J Cell Sci | Volume | 120 |
| Issue | Pt 8 | Pages | 1330-40 |
| PubMed ID | 17389684 | Mgi Jnum | J:122047 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3713029 | Doi | 10.1242/jcs.000968 |
| Citation | Diaz FJ, et al. (2007) Oocytes determine cumulus cell lineage in mouse ovarian follicles. J Cell Sci 120(Pt 8):1330-40 |
| abstractText | The two principal functions of ovarian follicles are developmental and endocrine. The cumulus cells surrounding the oocyte are specialized to serve the development of the oocyte and steroidogenesis is a principal role of mural granulosa cells that line the follicle wall. The findings in this report demonstrate that oocytectomy or treatment with an inhibitor of SMAD2/3 activation results in decreased cumulus marker mRNA transcript levels and allows FSH to induce mural marker transcripts in cumulus cells. In addition, SMAD2/3 signaling is involved in enabling cumulus expansion and EGF-induced increases in Ptx3, Ptgs2 and Has2 mRNA levels. By contrast, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulated expression of mural transcripts, but suppressed levels of cumulus transcripts. Thus, FSH and oocyte-stimulated SMAD2/3 signaling establish opposing gradients of influence in the follicle. These specify the mural and cumulus granulosa cell phenotypes that are pivotal for appropriate endocrine function and oocyte development. |
