Dazl determines primordial follicle formation through the translational regulation of Tex14.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Rosario R
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6894055 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Cell signaling mediated by the KIT receptor is critical for many aspects of oogenesis including the proliferation and migration of primordial germ cells, as well as the survival, growth, and maturation of ovarian follicles. We previously showed that KIT regulates cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation, and in this study, have investigated the mechanisms downstream of the receptor by modulating the activity of two downstream signaling cascades: the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. E17.5 ovaries were cultured for 5 days with a daily dose of media supplemented with either the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, the MEK inhibitor U0126, or a DMSO vehicle control. Our histological observations aligned with the established role of PI3K in oocyte growth and primordial follicle activation but also revealed that LY294002 treatment delayed the processes of cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation. U0126 treatment also led to a reduction in oocyte growth and follicle development but did not appear to affect cyst breakdown. The delay in cyst breakdown was mitigated when ovaries were dually dosed with LY294002 and KITL, suggesting that while KIT may signal through PI3K to promote cyst breakdown, other signaling networks downstream of the receptor could compensate. These observations unearth a role for PI3K signaling in the establishment of the ovarian reserve and suggest that PI3K might be the primary mediator of KIT-induced cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation in the mouse ovary.
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Project description:The DAZ family genes boule, daz and dazl have conserved functions in primordial germ cell (PGC) migration, germ stem cell proliferation, differentiation and meiosis progression. It has remained unknown whether this family is required for PGC formation in developing embryos. Our recent study in the fish medaka (Oryzias latipes) has defined dnd as the critical PGC specifier and predicted the presence of additional factors essential for PGC formation. Here we report that dazl is a second key player for medaka PGC formation. Dazl knockdown did not prevent PGC formation even in the absence of normal somatic structures. It turned out that a high level of Dazl protein was maternally supplied and persisted until gastrulation, and hardly affected by two antisense morpholino oligos targeting the dazl RNA translation. Importantly, microinjection of a Dazl antibody remarkably reduced the number of PGCs and even completely abolished PGC formation without causing detectable somatic abnormality. Therefore, medaka PGC formation requires the Dazl protein as maternal germ plasm component, offering first evidence that dazl is a critical player in PGC formation in vivo. Our results demonstrate that antibody neutralization is a powerful tool to study the roles of maternal protein factors in PGC development in vivo.
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Project description:The leading cause of infertility in men and women is quantitative and qualitative defects in human germ-cell (oocyte and sperm) development. Yet, it has not been possible to examine the unique developmental genetics of human germ-cell formation and differentiation owing to inaccessibility of germ cells during fetal development. Although several studies have shown that germ cells can be differentiated from mouse and human embryonic stem cells, human germ cells differentiated in these studies generally did not develop beyond the earliest stages. Here we used a germ-cell reporter to quantify and isolate primordial germ cells derived from both male and female human embryonic stem cells. By silencing and overexpressing genes that encode germ-cell-specific cytoplasmic RNA-binding proteins (not transcription factors), we modulated human germ-cell formation and developmental progression. We observed that human DAZL (deleted in azoospermia-like) functions in primordial germ-cell formation, whereas closely related genes DAZ and BOULE (also called BOLL) promote later stages of meiosis and development of haploid gametes. These results are significant to the generation of gametes for future basic science and potential clinical applications.
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Project description:Follistatin (FST) is an antagonist of activin and related TGF? superfamily members that has important reproductive actions as well as critical regulatory functions in other tissues and systems. FST is produced as three protein isoforms that differ in their biochemical properties and in their localization within the body. We created FST288-only mice that only express the short FST288 isoform and previously reported that females are subfertile, but have an excess of primordial follicles on postnatal day (PND) 8.5 that undergo accelerated demise in adults. We have now examined germ cell nest breakdown and primordial follicle formation in the critical PND 0.5-8.5 period to test the hypothesis that the excess primordial follicles derive from increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis during germ cell nest breakdown. Using double immunofluorescence microscopy we found that there is virtually no germ cell proliferation after birth in wild-type or FST288-only females. However, the entire process of germ cell nest breakdown was extended in time (through at least PND 8.5) and apoptosis was significantly reduced in FST288-only females. In addition, FST288-only females are born with more germ cells within the nests. Thus, the excess primordial follicles in FST288-only mice derive from a greater number of germ cells at birth as well as a reduced rate of apoptosis during nest breakdown. These results also demonstrate that FST is critical for normal regulation of germ cell nest breakdown and that loss of the FST303 and/or FST315 isoforms leads to excess primordial follicles with accelerated demise, resulting in premature cessation of ovarian function.
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Project description:Primordial follicle pool established perinatally is a non-renewable resource which determines the female fecundity in mammals. While the majority of primordial follicles in the primordial follicle pool maintain dormant state, only a few of them are activated into growing follicles in adults in each cycle. Excessive activation of the primordial follicles accelerates follicle pool consumption and leads to premature ovarian failure. Although previous studies including ours have emphasized the importance of keeping the balance between primordial follicle activation and dormancy via molecules within the primordial follicles, such as TGF-β, E-Cadherin, mTOR, and AKT through different mechanisms, the homeostasis regulatory mechanisms of primordial follicle activation remain unclear. Here, we reported that HDAC6 acts as a key negative regulator of mTOR in dormant primordial follicles. In the cytoplasm of both oocytes and granulosa cells of primordial follicles, HDAC6 expressed strong, however in those activated primordial follicles, its expression level is relatively weaker. Inhibition or knockdown of HDAC6 significantly promoted the activation of limited primordial follicles while the size of follicle pool was not affected profoundly in vitro. Importantly, the expression level of mTOR in the follicle and the activity of PI3K in the oocyte of the follicle were simultaneously up-regulated after inhibiting of HDAC6. The up-regulated mTOR leads to not only the growth and differentiation of primordial follicles granulosa cells (pfGCs) into granulosa cells (GCs), but the increased secretion of KITL in these somatic cells. As a result, inhibition of HDAC6 awaked the dormant primordial follicles of mice in vitro. In conclusion, HDAC6 may play an indispensable role in balancing the maintenance and activation of primordial follicles through mTOR signaling in mice. These findings shed new lights on uncovering the epigenetic factors involved physiology of sustaining female reproduction.
| S-EPMC8164630 | biostudies-literature
Project description:We examined the expression and hormonal regulation of E-cadherin (CDH1) and N-cadherin (CDH2) with respect to primordial follicle formation. Hamster Cdh1 and Cdh2 cDNA and amino acid sequences were more than 90% similar to those of the mouse, rat, and human. Although CDH1 expression remained exclusively in the oocytes during neonatal ovary development, CDH2 expression shifted from the oocytes to granulosa cells of primordial follicles on postnatal day (P)8. Subsequently, strong CDH2 expression was restricted to granulosa cells of growing follicles. Cdh2 mRNA levels in the ovary decreased from embryonic d 13 through P10 with a transient increase on P7, which was the day before the appearance of primordial follicles. Cdh1 mRNA levels decreased from embryonic d 13 through P3 and then showed a transient increase on P8, coinciding with the formation of primordial follicles. CDH1 and CDH2 expression were consistent with that of mRNA. Neutralization of FSH in utero impaired primordial follicle formation with an associated decrease in Cdh2 mRNA and CDH2, but an increase in Cdh1 mRNA and CDH1 expression. The altered expression was reversed by equine chorionic gonadotropin treatment on P1. Whereas a CDH2 antibody significantly reduced the formation of primordial and primary follicles in vitro, a CDH1 antibody had the opposite effect. This is the first evidence to suggest that primordial follicle formation requires a differential spatiotemporal expression and action of CDH1 and CDH2. Further, FSH regulation of primordial follicle formation may involve the action of CDH1 and CDH2.
| S-EPMC2869259 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Fertility in mammals is dependant on females having an adequate primordial follicle pool to supply oocytes for fertilization. The formation of primordial follicles is called ovarian follicular assembly. In rats and mice progesterone and estradiol have been shown to inhibit follicle assembly with assembly occurring after birth when the pups are removed from the high-steroid maternal environment. In contrast, primordial follicle assembly in other species, such as cattle and humans, occurs during fetal development before birth. The objective of the current study is to determine if progesterone levels regulate primordial follicle assembly in fetal bovine ovaries. Ovaries and blood were collected from bovine fetuses. Interestingly, ovarian progesterone and estradiol concentrations were found to decrease with increasing fetal age and correlated to increased primordial follicle assembly. Microarray analysis of fetal ovary RNA suggests that progesterone membrane receptor and estrogen nuclear receptor are expressed. Treatment of fetal bovine ovary cultures with a higher progesterone concentration significantly decreased primordial follicle assembly. Observations indicate that progesterone affects ovarian primordial follicle assembly in cattle, as it does in rats and mice.
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Project description:Primordial follicles (PF) are formed when somatic cells differentiate into flattened pregranulosa cells, invaginate into the oocyte nests and encircle individual oocytes. We hypothesize that BMP2 regulates PF formation by promoting the transition of germ cells into oocytes and somatic cells into pregranulosa cells. E15 hamster ovaries were cultured for 8 days corresponding to postnatal day 8 (P8) in vivo, with or without BMP2, and the formation of PF was examined. BMP2 was expressed in the oocytes as well as ovarian somatic cells during development. BMP2 exposure for the first two days or the last two days or the entire 8 days of culture led to increase in PF formation suggesting that BMP2 affected both germ cell transition and somatic cell differentiation. Whereas an ALK2/3 inhibitor completely blocked BMP2-induced PF formation, an ALK2-specific inhibitor was partially effective, suggesting that BMP2 affected PF formation via both ALK2 and ALK3. BMP2 also reduced apoptosis in vitro. Further, more meiotic oocytes were present in BMP2 exposed ovaries. In summary, the results provide the first evidence that BMP2 regulates primordial follicle formation by promoting germ cell to oocyte transition and somatic cell to pre-granulosa cells formation and it acts via both ALK2 and ALK3.
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Project description:Although many proteins have been shown to affect the transition of primordial follicles to the primary stage, factors regulating the formation of primordial follicles remains sketchy at best. Differentiation of somatic cells into early granulosa cells during ovarian morphogenesis is the hallmark of primordial follicle formation; hence, critical changes are expected in protein expression. We wanted to identify proteins, the expression of which would correlate with the formation of primordial follicles as a first step to determine their biological function in folliculogenesis. Proteins were extracted from embryonic (E15) and 8-day-old (P8) hamster ovaries and fractionated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Gels were stained with Proteosilver, and images of protein profiles corresponding to E15 and P8 ovaries were overlayed to identify protein spots showing altered expression. Some of the protein spots were extracted from SyproRuby-stained preparative gels, digested with trypsin, and analyzed by mass spectrometry. Both E15 and P8 ovaries had high molecular weight proteins at acidic, basic, and neutral ranges; however, we focused on small molecular weight proteins at 4-7 pH range. Many of those spots might represent post-translational modification. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed the identity of these proteins. The formation of primordial follicles on P8 correlated with many differentially and newly expressed proteins. Whereas Ebp1 expression was downregulated in ovarian somatic cells, Sfrs3 expression was specifically upregulated in newly formed granulosa cells of primordial follicles on P8. The results show for the first time that the morphogenesis of primordial follicles in the hamster coincides with altered and novel expression of proteins involved in cell proliferation, transcriptional regulation, and metabolism. Therefore, formation of primordial follicles is an active process requiring differentiation of somatic cells into early granulosa cells and their interaction with the oocytes.
| S-EPMC3418795 | biostudies-literature
Project description:In female mammals, primordial follicles consist of two types of cells, namely, oocytes and pregranulosa cells that surround the oocytes. The size of the primordial follicle pool determines the reproductive ability of female mammals. However, the underlying mechanisms controlling primordial follicle assembly remain unclear. In this study, we show that oocyte-derived Janus kinase (JAK) signaling is vital for germline cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation in vitro JAK2 and JAK3 activity is increased while germline cysts are breaking down. Inhibition of either JAK2 or JAK3 prevents germline cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation. We further show that specific suppression of JAK2 delays germ cell loss through the downregulation of p53, but has no influence on pregranulosa cell proliferation. Alternatively, specific inhibition of JAK3 decreases pregranulosa cell proliferation by downregulating Notch2 signaling, implying that JAK3 acts on pregranulosa cells by controlling the extracellular secretion of oocyte-derived factors. In summary, our results indicate that JAK signaling contributes to germline cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation by regulating oocyte loss and pregranulosa cell proliferation in the fetal mouse ovary. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of mammalian folliculogenesis.
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