Most follicles in the mammalian ovary undergo atresia. Granulosa cell apoptosis is a hallmark of follicle atresia. Our previous study using a microRNA (miRNA) microarray showed that the let-7 microRNA family was differentially expressed during follicular atresia. However, whether the let-7 miRNA family members are related to porcine (Sus scrofa) ovary follicular apoptosis is unclear. In the cur...

In the mouse ovary, the primordial follicle pool is established through a diverse array of signaling pathways and tissue remodeling events. Growth arrest specific gene two (GAS2) is a highly conserved cytoskeleton-associated protein whose in vivo function remains unclear. In Drosophila, loss of the GAS2 homolog, Pigs, results in infertility. We demonstrate herein that, in the mouse ovary, GAS2 ...

There is currently much interest in assisted reproduction techniques in the horse, however, many aspects of oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryo development in the horse differ from those in other species. Because of the close attachment of the equine oocyte to the follicle wall, scraping of the follicle is the most effective method for oocyte recovery. A notable feature of equine oocyt...

The Drosophila melanogaster genetic tool box includes many stocks for generating genetically mosaic tissue in which a clone of cells, related by lineage, contain a common genetic alteration. These tools have made it possible to study the postembryonic function of essential genes and to better understand how individual cells interact within intact tissues. We have screened through 201 enhancer-t...

In order to evaluate the expression profile of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) mRNA in the ovary of Zi geese during developmental and egg laying stages, the expression levels of FSHR mRNA in the ovary of Zi geese at the ages of 1 day, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 months (n=8, respectively) were examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The results showed that FSHR mRNA expression wa...

.......................................................................................... xiv Research Publications ................................................................... xviii Conference abstracts ..................................................................... xix Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................... 2 1.1 Folliculoge...

BACKGROUND Throughout oogenesis, cell-cell communication via gap junctions (GJs) between oocytes and surrounding follicle cells (theca and granulosa cells), and/or amongst follicle cells is required for successful follicular development. To gain a fundamental understanding of ovarian GJs in teleosts, gene transcripts encoding GJ proteins, connexins (cx), were identified in the coho salmon, Onco...

The extracellular matrix (ECM) promotes and/or inhibits many cellular processes, including but not limited to proliferation, differentiation, and survival, which must occur for follicle growth and oocyte maturation. The ECM regulation of cellular processes in ovarian cells is being investigated in many animal models, including avian, rat, bovine, porcine, rabbit, sheep, human, and mouse. Granul...

In the present paper comparative study of morpho-histology of ovaries of both WT (HdrR) and P53 (-/-) of medaka (Oryzias latipes) has been done. The ovaries of adult are paired and oval-rounded in shape and are situated ventrolaterally. Histologically the ovaries consist of follicles with various stages of development, such as primodial follicle, large follicle and growing follicle. Also, the o...

The preovulatory follicles of the mature domestic birds are arranged in a distinct hierarchical order in the ovary. Presumably all preovulatory follicles are exposed to a daily surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), but only the largest follicle (F1) ovulates each day. This has been explained by the ability of progesterone synthesis of F1 in response to LH. In fact, progesterone contents in the fol...