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Department of Pathology (J.A.E., C.Y., P.W., M.M.M.) Department
of Molecular and Human Genetics (J.A.E., M.M.M.), and Department of
Cell Biology (M.M.M.) Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas
77030
Department of Applied Biochemistry (K.N.) Tohoku
University Sendai, Miyagi, Japan 981-8555
Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9), a
secreted member of the transforming growth factor-ß superfamily, is
expressed at high levels in the mammalian oocyte beginning at the type
3a primary follicle stage. We have previously demonstrated that
GDF-9-deficient female mice are infertile because of an early block in
folliculogenesis at the type 3b primary follicle stage. To address the
molecular defects that result from the absence of GDF-9, we have
analyzed the expression of several important ovarian marker genes. The
major findings of our studies are as follows: 1) There are no
detectable signals around GDF-9-deficient follicles for several theca
cell layer markers [i.e. 17
-hydroxylase, LH receptor
(LHR), and c-kit, the receptor for kit ligand]. This
demonstrates that in the absence of GDF-9, the follicles are
incompetent to emit a signal that recruits theca cell precursors to
surround the follicle; 2) The primary follicles of GDF-9-deficient mice
demonstrate an up-regulation of kit ligand and inhibin-
. This
suggests that these two important secreted growth factors, expressed in
the granulosa cells, may be directly regulated in a paracrine fashion
by GDF-9. Up-regulation of kit ligand, via signaling through
c-kit on the oocyte, may be directly involved in the
increased size of GDF-9-deficient oocytes and the eventual demise of
the oocyte; 3) After loss of the oocyte, the cells of the
GDF-9-deficient follicles remain in a steroidogenic cluster that
histologically resembles small corpora lutea. However, at the molecular
level, these cells are positive for both luteal markers
(e.g. LHR and P-450 side chain cleavage) and nonluteal
markers (e.g. inhibin
and P-450 aromatase). This
demonstrates that initially the presence of the oocyte prevents the
expression of luteinized markers, but that the absence of GDF-9 at an
early timepoint alters the differentiation program of the granulosa
cells; and 4) As demonstrated by staining with either proliferating
cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) or Ki-67 and TUNEL
(terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling)
labeling, the granulosa cells of GDF-9-deficient type 3b primary
follicles fail to proliferate but also fail to undergo cell death. This
suggests that granulosa cells of type 3b follicles require GDF-9 for
continued growth and also to become competent to undergo apoptosis,
possibly through a differentiation event. Thus, these studies have
enlightened us as to the paracrine roles of GDF-9 as well as the normal
steps of granulosa cell and theca cell growth and differentiation
within ovarian follicles.
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M Myers, K L Britt, N G M Wreford, F J P Ebling, and J B Kerr Methods for quantifying follicular numbers within the mouse ovary Reproduction, May 1, 2004; 127(5): 569 - 580. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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