Novel regulators of granulosa cell function

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Fertility is dependent on successful development of a mature egg in the ovary. The egg develops in the follicle, and the overall aim of this research program is to understand more fully the control of ovarian follicle growth. Controlling fertility in cattle is particularly important for the dairy and beef industries in Canada, and the cow is also a useful model for humans, as cows have patterns of follicle growth that are similar to those seen in women. Follicle growth is regulated by a wide range of hormones and proteins, and in this project we will focus on two proteins recently described to play potential roles in the cow follicle. One of these is Fibroblast Growth Factor-18, which increases the number of dead cells within the follicle. We aim to determine how this protein causes the death of these cells. The second is Angiotensin, which is traditionally involved in regulation of blood pressure. We have evidence that Angiotensin may alter tissue remodelling in the ovary, and we shall explore the mechanism of this action. By gaining a clearer understanding of cell death and tissue growth in the follicle, we will be able to devise better methods for controlling fertility in agriculturally important species including ruminants.