Manipulating Ovarian Follicle - Oocyte Communication to Control Reproductive Outcomes

卵巢卵泡提供支持卵母细胞（卵子）发育的环境。卵泡细胞和卵母细胞之间的通讯调节这种环境。我们发现了接收来自卵母细胞的信号的新细胞表面分子，并确定了一类可以调节这种信号传导的药物化合物。这一发现为治疗性干预这一信号传导过程提供了独特的潜力，既改善了不孕症治疗，又开发了新的非甾体避孕药。

Ovarian follicles provide the environment supporting oocyte (egg) development. Communication between cells of the follicle and oocytes modulate this environment. We discovered new cell surface molecules that receive the signals from the oocyte and we identified a class of drug compounds that can modulate this signalling. This discovery offers a unique potential to therapeutically intervene in this signalling process and both improve infertility therapies and develop new non-steroidal contraceptives.