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First published online 27 March 2007
doi: 10.1242/jcs.000968

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jcs.000968v1 120/8/1330    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in JCS Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Diaz, F. J. Articles by Eppig, J. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Diaz, F. J. Articles by Eppig, J. J. Pubmed/NCBI databases Gene GEO Profiles HomoloGene UniGene Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH

Oocytes determine cumulus cell lineage in mouse ovarian follicles

The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: john.eppig{at}jax.org)

Accepted 13 February 2007

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.

Key words: Ovarian follicle, Oocytes, FSH, SMAD2/3

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