| First Author | Wang Z | Year | 2022 |
| Journal | Commun Biol | Volume | 5 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 1327 |
| PubMed ID | 36463362 | Mgi Jnum | J:336045 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7407405 | Doi | 10.1038/s42003-022-04287-8 |
| Citation | Wang Z, et al. (2022) The oocyte cumulus complex regulates mouse sperm migration in the oviduct. Commun Biol 5(1):1327 |
| abstractText | As the time of ovulation draws near, mouse spermatozoa move out of the isthmic reservoir, which is a prerequisite for fertilization. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. The present study revealed that mouse cumulus cells of oocytes-cumulus complexes (OCCs) expressed transforming growth factor-beta ligand 1 (TGFB1), whereas ampullary epithelial cells expressed the TGF-beta receptors, TGFBR1 and TGFBR2, and all were upregulated by luteinizing hormone (LH)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). OCCs and TGFB1 increased natriuretic peptide type C (NPPC) expression in cultured ampullae via TGF-beta signaling, and NPPC treatment promoted spermatozoa moving out of the isthmic reservoir of the preovulatory oviducts. Deletion of Tgfb1 in cumulus cells and Tgfbr2 in ampullary epithelial cells blocked OCC-induced NPPC expression and spermatozoa moving out of the isthmic reservoir, resulting in compromised fertilization and fertility. Oocyte-derived paracrine factors were required for promoting cumulus cell expression of TGFB1. Therefore, oocyte-dependent and cumulus cell-derived TGFB1 promotes the expression of NPPC in oviductal ampulla, which is critical for sperm migration in the oviduct and subsequent fertilization. |
