NEUROENDOCRINE CONTROL OF OVARIAN DEVELOPMENT

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 这个正在进行的项目正在检验一种假说，即神经系统发育和成熟功能所需的生长因子分子神经营养素和化学信使是由哺乳动物卵巢产生的，有助于调节腺体自然历史中的关键发育阶段。对携带神经营养素及其识别分子(即神经营养素受体)编码基因缺失的突变小鼠的分析表明，这些生长因子是卵巢卵泡(卵巢的结构和功能单位)早期发育所必需的。除了神经营养因子，卵巢还会产生一种 神经系统中神经元对神经元通讯所需的各种相同的化学信使。这些被称为神经递质的信使似乎有助于卵泡在早期发育过程中分化，并获得对脑下垂体分泌的激素做出反应的能力，这些激素控制青春期前和成年生殖期间成熟卵泡的生长。我们目前正在进行研究，目的是确定在卵巢发育过程中能够识别神经营养素的细胞类型，并使用遗传学手段来确定这些识别分子在卵巢发育(包括排卵)中的重要性。我们还在研究一种假说，即过量的神经营养素对卵巢功能有害而不是有益。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. This ongoing project is examining the hypothesis that growth factor molecules known as neurotrophins, and chemical messengers required for the development and mature function of the nervous system are produced by the mammalian ovary and contribute to regulating critical developmental phases in the natural history of the gland. The analysis of mutant mice carrying deletions of the genes encoding either neurotrophins or their recognition molecules (i.e., the neurotrophin receptors) showed that these growth factors are required for early development of ovarian follicles (the structural and functional unit of the ovary). In addition to neurotrophins, the ovary produces a variety of the same chemical messengers required for neuron-to-neuron communication in the nervous system. These messengers, known as neurotransmitters, appear to contribute to the process by which follicles become differentiated during early development and acquire the capability of responding to those hormones that -- secreted by the pituitary gland -- control the growth of mature follicles before puberty and during adult reproductive life. We are currently carrying out studies aimed at defining the cell types able to recognize neurotrophins during ovarian development, and are using genetic means to define the importance of these recognition molecules in ovarian development, including ovulation. We are also investigating the hypothesis that an excess of neurotrophins is deleterious, instead of beneficial, to ovarian function.