The role of oocyte-secreted proteins in primate follicular cell function

哺乳动物的卵子在卵巢中充满液体的囊袋中生长发育，称为卵泡。这些结构长时间地滋养卵子，为排卵和受精做准备。一段时间以来，人们已经知道卵泡环境的质量在一定程度上决定了卵子的发育潜力。最近对小鼠的研究表明，卵子和卵泡之间的相互作用实际上是一个双向过程，卵子能够影响卵泡的发育。该项目建议使用我们可用的新试剂在实验室小鼠中进一步研究这些过程，并通过首次在灵长类动物中研究这种通信途径来扩展这些发现。由于使用人类材料进行此类研究的困难，我们将使用绒猴作为模型。这一令人兴奋的新进展对女性健康具有重要意义，因为它可以帮助我们理解为什么一些女性会过早绝经或卵巢囊肿，从长远来看，它可以帮助开发新型避孕药。

Mammalian eggs grow and develop in fluid filled sacks in the ovary called follicles. These structures nurture the egg for prolonged periods preparing it for ovulation and fertilisation. It has been known for some time that the quality of the follicular environment determines, in part, the developmental potential of the egg. Recent studies in mice have shown that the interaction between the egg and the follicle is in fact a two-way process, and that the egg is able to influence development of the follicle. This project proposes to investigate these processes further in the laboratory mouse using new reagents available to us, and to extend these findings by investigating this communication pathway for the first time in a primate species. Because of the difficulty of undertaking such research using human material, we will use the marmoset monkey as a model. This exciting new development has important implications for women's health because it may help us understand why some women suffer from premature menopause or cystic ovaries, and in the longer term could help in the development of new types of contraceptives.