| First Author | Dumaresq-Doiron K | Year | 2012 |
| Journal | J Cell Physiol | Volume | 227 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 1911-22 |
| PubMed ID | 21732362 | Mgi Jnum | J:351301 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7663073 | Doi | 10.1002/jcp.22919 |
| Citation | Dumaresq-Doiron K, et al. (2012) Hyal-1 but not Hyal-3 deficiency has an impact on ovarian folliculogenesis and female fertility by altering the follistatin/activin/Smad3 pathway and the apoptotic process. J Cell Physiol 227(5):1911-22 |
| abstractText | Ovarian follicle development is a process regulated by various endocrine, paracrine and autocrine factors that act coordinately to promote follicle growth. However, the vast majority of follicles does not reach the pre-ovulatory stage but instead, undergo atresia by apoptosis. We have recently described a role for the somatic hyaluronidases (Hyal-1, Hyal-2, and Hyal-3) in ovarian follicular atresia and induction of granulosa cell apoptosis. Herein, we show that Hyal-1 but not Hyal-3 null mice have decreased apoptotic granulosa cells after the induction of atresia and an increased number of retrieved oocytes after stimulation of ovulation. Furthermore, young Hyal-1 null mice had a significantly higher number of primordial follicles than age matched wild-type animals. Recruitment of these follicles at puberty resulted in an increased number of primary and healthy preantral follicles in Hyal-1 null mice. Consequently, older Hyal-1 deficient female mice have prolonged fertility. At the molecular level, immature Hyal-1 null mice have decreased mRNA expression of follistatin and higher levels of phospho-Smad3 protein, resulting in increased levels of phospho-Akt in pubertal mice. Hyal-1 null ovarian follicles did not exhibit hyaluronan accumulation. For Hyal-3 null mice, compensation by Hyal-1 or Hyal-2 might be related to the lack of an ovarian phenotype. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that Hyal-1 plays a key role in the early phases of folliculogenesis by negatively regulating ovarian follicle growth and survival. Our findings add Hyal-1 as an ovarian regulator factor for follicle development, showing for the first time an interrelationship between this enzyme and the follistatin/activin/Smad3 pathway. |
