EVALUATION OF OOCYTES QUALITY THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF APOPTOTIC SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION IN FOLLICLES.

利用Fas-Fas配体作为细胞凋亡信号转导的主要系统，对排卵前雌性小鼠（B6C3品系）卵巢凋亡系统进行了研究。Fas抗原位于颗粒细胞膜表面。Fas配体与Fas抗原结合后开始细胞内信号转导。即使在小鼠闭锁卵泡中，卵母细胞表面也未发现Fas抗原。在颗粒细胞表面发现Fas抗原和Fas配体。原位杂交显示凋亡颗粒细胞产生Fas抗原，不产生Fas配体。卵母细胞中产生Fas配体。因此，卵母细胞是卵泡发育或闭锁卵泡的关键。蛋白C激酶介导颗粒细胞胞内信号转导。通过蛋白C激酶阻断细胞内转导在卵泡发育中不起作用，提示有其他信号转导。p38蛋白含有α、β、γ和δ 4种亚型。在这些组中，p38α刺激卵泡凋亡，而p38β没有。对于闭锁卵泡细胞凋亡的所有细胞内信号转导的检测需要进一步的研究。

Fas-Fas ligand which is a major system of signal transduction of apoptosis was used for elucidation of apoptotic system in ovaries from preovulatory female mice (B6C3 strain). Fas antigen is on the surface of granulosa cell membrane. Intracellular signal transduction starts after Fas ligand combines to Fas antigen. Fas antigen was not found on the surface of oocyte even in the atretic follicle of mouse. Otherwhile Fas antigen and Fas ligand was found on the surface of granulosa cells. In situ hybridization showed that apoptotic granulosa cells producted Fas antigen and not Fas ligand. Fas ligands was producted in oocyte. Therefore oocytes hold the key to follicle development or atretic follicles. Protein C kinase mediates intracellular signal transduction of granulosa cells. Other signal transduction was suggested while blockage of intracellular transduction via protein C kinase was no use in follicle development. There was p38 protein which contains 4 kinds of isoforms (α,β,γ and δ). In those groups, p38α stimulates follicular apoptosis but p38β does not. Further investigation is necessary for detection of all of intracellular signal transduction for apoptosis in atretic follicles.