Members of the forkhead box O1 (FOXO) family of transcription factors are expressed in granulosa cells during various stages of follicle development, and evidence from rodent and other model systems suggests that they may be involved in regulating follicular activation and oocyte maturation. In this report, we show that FOXO1, FOXO3, and FOXO4 are expressed in human luteinized mural granulosa c...

In a normal menstrual cycle the hypothalamus in the brain signals the release of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) which, in turn stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release FSH followed by LH. These hormones target the granulosa and theca cells respectively within the ovary. The dual action of these hormones causes the follicle to mature, and during its maturation oestrogen is incre...

objective: improvements in cancer treatment have allowed more young women to survive. however, many cancer patients suffer from ovarian failure. cryopreservation is one of the solutions for fertility restoration in these patients. the cryopreservation of isolated follicles is a more attractive approach in the long term. many endocrine and paracrine factors can stimulate the granulosa cells of p...

Coordinated interactions between ovarian granulosa and theca cells are required for female endocrine function and fertility. To elucidate these interactions the regulation of the granulosa and theca cell transcriptomes during bovine antral follicle development were investigated. Granulosa cells and theca cells were isolated from small (<5 mm), medium (5-10 mm), and large (>10 mm) antral bovine ...

STUDY QUESTION Do microRNAs (miRNAs) in granulosa cells (GCs) affect oocyte maturation during ovarian follicle development? SUMMARY ANSWER Sophisticated regulation by miRNAs in ovarian GCs may improve oocyte maturation efficiency during ovarian follicle development. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY The meiotic competence of oocytes depends on the follicle's potential to undergo appropriate maturation ...

Obesity in many species is associated with reduced fertility and increased risk of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular dysfunction in offspring. Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is associated with obesity and characterized by insulin resistance, decreased adiponectin, and elevated insulin, leptin, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These alterations can potentially disrupt follicular development...

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are commonly added to maturation media to improve cumulus expansion known to be a predictor of oocyte maturation. Therefore, effects of various concentrations of FSH (1000 ng/ml), LH (1000 ng/ml) and FSH + LH (1000 ng/ml each) in comparison with control (without FSH + LH) cultured oocytes were investigated. FSH and LH (1000 ng/ml e...

AIM To assess proliferative and apoptotic potential of the seminiferous epithelium cells in relation to Sertoli cell maturation in newborn rats under the influence of estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) or both agents given together. METHODS From postnatal day (PND) 5 to 15 male rats were daily injected with 12.5 microg of 17beta-estradiol benzoate (EB) or 7.5 IU of human purified F...

The toxicity of QD has been extensively studied over the past decade. However, the potential toxicity of QDs impedes its use for clinical research. In this work, we established a preantral follicle in vitro culture system to investigate the effects of QD-Transferrin (QDs-Tf) bioconjugates on follicle development and oocyte maturation. The preantral follicles were cultured and exposed to CdTe/Zn...

Although earlier studies focused on the hormonal regulation of antral and preovulatory follicles, recent studies indicate the importance of the hormonal control mechanism for preantral follicles. The endocrine hormone FSH is not only a survival factor for early antral follicles but also a potent growth and differentiation factor for preantral follicles. In addition, KGF secreted by theca cells ...