Intraovarian regulatory systems for follicular growth

卵泡生长是排卵和黄体形成的重要过程。如果它受损，就会发生卵巢功能障碍。卵泡生长被认为主要受垂体分泌的促性腺激素调节。然而，卵泡选择的确切机制仍不清楚。因此，一些卵巢内的调节系统，如神经元和免疫系统被提出来解释这一现象。我们还报道了细胞因子可以参与猪颗粒细胞。本研究建立了小鼠未成熟卵泡的器官培养体系，并研究了几种因素对卵泡生长的影响。第一个是抑制层粘连蛋白和颗粒细胞上表达的整合素之间的相互作用导致颗粒细胞中芳香化酶活性的诱导。第二，抑制颗粒细胞和卵泡膜间质细胞上表达的氨肽酶活性也诱导颗粒细胞中的芳香化酶活性。这些发现表明卵巢中存在新的调节系统，将有助于阐明生殖生理学。

Follicular growth is an important process which is followed by ovulation and corpus luteum formation. If it is impaired, ovarian dysfunction will be occur. Follicular growth is considered to be mainly regulated by gonadotropins secreted from pituitary. However, the precise mechanism of follicular selection remains unclear. Therefore, several intraovarian regulation systems such as neuron and immune systems are proposed to explain this phenomenon. We also reported that cytokines can be involved in porcine granulosa cells. In this study, we have established an organ culture system of murine immature follicles and examined the effect of several factors on follicular growth in vitro.Using this system, we found two important findings. The first is that inhibition of the interaction between laminin and integrin expressed on granulosa cells leads to induction of aromatase activity in granulosa cells. The second is that the inhibition of aminopeptidase activity expressed on granulosa and theca-interstitial cells also induces aromatase activity in granulosa cells. These findings indicate new regulatory systems in the ovary and will contribute to clarification of reproductive physiology.