Development of Follicles in the Mammalian Ovary

Hirshfield, Anne N.

doi:10.1016/s0074-7696(08)61524-7

Cited by 1,110 publications

(853 citation statements)

References 288 publications

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“…It is also interesting that, only 2 weeks after transplantation, the donor theca cells were observed in fully grown follicles. Because follicular development in mature rodents is estimated to take Ϸ6 weeks (24), it is probable that the transplanted thecal cells were able to invade partially grown preexisting follicles.…”

Section: Differentiation Of Putative Thecal Stem Cells In Vitro and Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation, characterization, andin vitroandin vivodifferentiation of putative thecal stem cells

Honda

Hirose

Hara

et al. 2007

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

123

115

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Although ovarian theca cells play an indispensable role in folliculogenesis by providing follicular structural integrity and steroid substrates for estrogen production, little information is available about their recruitment, growth, and differentiation because their immature forms have not been identified. We have isolated putative thecal stem cells with the ability to self-renew and differentiate in vivo and in vitro. They are similar to fibroblasts in morphology and proliferate in vitro as round colonies with a homogenous cell population. They were induced to differentiate into early precursors and steroidogenic cells in a stepwise manner after treatment with serum, luteinizing hormone, and paracrine factors from granulosa cells. At each differentiation step, these cells displayed appropriate gene expression and morphological markers and later secreted androstenedione. The fully mature morphology was achieved by coculture with isolated granulosa cells. When transplanted into the ovaries, the putative thecal stem cells colonized exclusively in the ovarian interstitium and the thecal layer of follicles as differentiated cells. Thus, thecal stem cells appear to be present in neonatal ovaries and can be isolated, purified, and induced to differentiate in vitro. Thecal stem cells could provide an invaluable in vitro experimental system to study interactions among the oocytes, granulosa cells, and theca cells during normal folliculogenesis and to study ovarian pathology caused by theca cell dysfunction.follicle ͉ oocyte ͉ ovary

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Section: Differentiation Of Putative Thecal Stem Cells In Vitro and Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation, characterization, andin vitroandin vivodifferentiation of putative thecal stem cells

Honda

Hirose

Hara

et al. 2007

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

123

115

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“…Development and maturation of oocytes occur within ovarian follicles. Successful ovulation of the oocyte requires appropriate progression of the follicle through a num ber of distinct developmental stages (12,37). The most immature stage of follicular developm ent is the prim ordial stage, during which follicles are formed in the ovary during fetal development.…”

Section: Ovarian Toxicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ovarian Toxicity of 4-Vinylcyclohexene Diepoxide: A Mechanistic Model

Hoyer

Devine

et al. 2001

Toxicol Pathol

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Fem ale m ammals are born with a nite number of ovarian primordial follicles that cannot be regenerated; thus, chemicals that destroy oocytes contained in these follicles can produce prem ature ovarian failure (early menopuas e in women). Exposure of women to know n ovotoxican ts, such as contaminants in cigarette smoke, is associated with early menopause . Thus, the potential risks posed by ovotoxic chemicals is of concern. Our studies have focused on the environmental chemical 4-vinylcyclohexene (VCH), which is produced during the manufacture of rubber tires, ame retardants, insecticides, plasticizers, and antioxidants. Dosing of female rats and mice with the ovotoxic diepoxide metabolite of VCH, 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD), for 30 days destroye d the majority of ovarian primordial follicles. Using VCD in rats as a generalized mode l for ovotoxicity, we determined that 1) repeated daily dosing is required, 2) cell death is via apoptosis, and 3) altered expression of speci c genes is involved. An integrated approach at the morphologic, biochemical, and molecular level was used to support these conclusions. Studies in isolated rat small preantral follicles (targeted for VCD-induced ovotoxicit y) focused on the role of cell death genes, mitochondrion-associated events, and VCD metabolism. We also evaluated how this information relates to human risk for early menopause . These animal research results provide a better understand ing of the potential risk of human exposure to environmental ovarian toxicants and greater insight as to the impact of these toxicants on reproductive health in wom en.

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“…In rodents, primordial follicles are formed between the day of birth and several days of age in a process known as primordial follicle assembly (Hirshfield 1991, Hirshfield & DeSanti 1995, Skinner 2005. Primordial follicles consist of a single oocyte that is arrested in prophase of the first meiotic division and that is surrounded by flattened pregranulosa cells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This process is known as the primordial to primary follicle transition. Once a primordial follicle leaves the arrested state it will either continue to grow until the oocyte is released at ovulation or the follicle undergoes apoptosis and atresia (Peters et al 1975, Hirshfield 1991, Rajah et al 1992. Several growth factors have been identified that regulate primordial to primary follicle transition by paracrine and autocrine signaling pathways including: kit ligand (KL); leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF); bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4); BMP7; platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF); basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF); and glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF; Fortune 2003, Skinner 2005, Visser & Themmen 2005, Dole et al 2008.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurotrophin Nt3 Promotes Ovarian Primordial to Primary Follicle Transition.

Nilsson

Dole²,

Skinner³

2009

Biology of Reproduction

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Neurotrophins are growth factors that are known to have a role in promoting cell survival and differentiation. The focus of the current study is to examine the role of neurotrophins in regulating ovarian primordial follicle development. Ovaries from 4-day old rats were placed into organ culture and cultured for 10 days in the absence or presence of neurotrophin-3 (NT3), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), or nerve growth factor (NGF). Treatment of ovaries with NT3 resulted in a significant (P<0.01) increase in primordial follicle development (i.e. primordial to primary follicle transition). Treatment with BDNF at high doses of 100-250 ng/ml also significantly (P<0.01) increased primordial follicle development, but NGF had no effect. Immunohistochemical studies determined that NT3 was present in granulosa cells, interstitial tissue, and in the oocytes of primordial and primary follicles. The NT3 receptor NTRK3 was present in oocytes at all stages of development. Analysis of ovaries that contain predominantly primordial follicles demonstrated the transcripts for NT3, NTRK3, NGF, and the BDNF/ neurotrophin-4 (NT4) receptor NTRK2 are expressed, while BDNF, NT4, and the NGF receptor NTRK1 are not detectable. Inhibition of the NTRK3 receptor with the tyrphostin AG 879 resulted in oocyte death and a significant (P<0.01) reduction in follicle pool size. Inhibition of the NTRK receptors with K252a slowed primordial to primary follicle transition. A microarray analysis demonstrated that a small number of genes were differentially expressed after NT3 treatment. Observations indicate that the neurotrophin NT3, acting through the NTRK3 receptor in oocytes, promotes the primordial to primary follicle transition.

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Development of Follicles in the Mammalian Ovary

Cited by 1,110 publications

References 288 publications

Isolation, characterization, andin vitroandin vivodifferentiation of putative thecal stem cells

Isolation, characterization, andin vitroandin vivodifferentiation of putative thecal stem cells

Ovarian Toxicity of 4-Vinylcyclohexene Diepoxide: A Mechanistic Model

Neurotrophin Nt3 Promotes Ovarian Primordial to Primary Follicle Transition.

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