Expression of activin subunits and receptors in the developing human ovary: Activin A promotes germ cell survival and proliferation before primordial follicle formation

Authors: Da Silva, S.J.M., Bayne, R.A.L., Cambray, N., Hartley, P.S., McNeilly, A.S. and Anderson, R.A.

Journal: Developmental Biology

Volume: 266

Issue: 2

Pages: 334-345

ISSN: 0012-1606

DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2003.10.030

Abstract:

The formation of the essential functional unit of the ovary, the primordial follicle, occurs during fetal life in humans. Factors regulating oogonial proliferation and interaction with somatic cells before primordial follicle formation are largely unknown. We have investigated the expression, localisation and functional effects of activin and its receptors in the human fetal ovary at 14-21 weeks gestation. Expression of mRNA for the activin βA and βB subunits and the activin receptors ActRIIA and ActRIIB was demonstrated by RT-PCR. Expression of βA mRNA increased 2-fold across the gestational range examined. Activin subunits and receptors were localised by immunohistochemistry. The βA subunit was expressed by oogonia, and the βB subunit and activin receptors were expressed by both oogonia and somatic cells. βA expression was increased in larger oogonia at later gestations, but was low in oocytes within newly formed primordial follicles. Treatment of ovary fragments with activin A in vitro increased both the number of oogonia present and oogonial proliferation, as detected by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. These data indicate that activin may be involved in the autocrine and paracrine regulation of germ cell proliferation in the human ovary during the crucial period of development leading up to primordial follicle formation. Crown Copyright © 2003 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Source: Scopus

Expression of activin subunits and receptors in the developing human ovary: activin A promotes germ cell survival and proliferation before primordial follicle formation.

Authors: Martins da Silva, S.J., Bayne, R.A.L., Cambray, N., Hartley, P.S., McNeilly, A.S. and Anderson, R.A.

Journal: Dev Biol

Volume: 266

Issue: 2

Pages: 334-345

ISSN: 0012-1606

DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2003.10.030

Abstract:

The formation of the essential functional unit of the ovary, the primordial follicle, occurs during fetal life in humans. Factors regulating oogonial proliferation and interaction with somatic cells before primordial follicle formation are largely unknown. We have investigated the expression, localisation and functional effects of activin and its receptors in the human fetal ovary at 14-21 weeks gestation. Expression of mRNA for the activin betaA and betaB subunits and the activin receptors ActRIIA and ActRIIB was demonstrated by RT-PCR. Expression of betaA mRNA increased 2-fold across the gestational range examined. Activin subunits and receptors were localised by immunohistochemistry. The betaA subunit was expressed by oogonia, and the betaB subunit and activin receptors were expressed by both oogonia and somatic cells. BetaA expression was increased in larger oogonia at later gestations, but was low in oocytes within newly formed primordial follicles. Treatment of ovary fragments with activin A in vitro increased both the number of oogonia present and oogonial proliferation, as detected by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. These data indicate that activin may be involved in the autocrine and paracrine regulation of germ cell proliferation in the human ovary during the crucial period of development leading up to primordial follicle formation.

Source: PubMed

Expression of activin subunits and receptors in the developing human ovary: activin A promotes germ cell survival and proliferation before primordial follicle formation

Authors: da Silva, S.J.M., Bayne, R.A.L., Cambray, N., Hartley, P.S., McNeilly, A.S. and Anderson, R.A.

Journal: DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

Volume: 266

Issue: 2

Pages: 334-345

eISSN: 1095-564X

ISSN: 0012-1606

DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2003.10.030

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Expression of activin subunits and receptors in the developing human ovary: activin A promotes germ cell survival and proliferation before primordial follicle formation

Authors: Martins da Silva, S.J., Bayne, R.A., Cambray, N., Hartley, P.S., McNeilly, A.S. and Anderson, R.A.

Journal: Dev Biol

Volume: 266

Pages: 334-345

ISSN: 0012-1606

Abstract:

The formation of the essential functional unit of the ovary, the primordial follicle, occurs during fetal life in humans. Factors regulating oogonial proliferation and interaction with somatic cells before primordial follicle formation are largely unknown. We have investigated the expression, localisation and functional effects of activin and its receptors in the human fetal ovary at 14-21 weeks gestation. Expression of mRNA for the activin betaA and betaB subunits and the activin receptors ActRIIA and ActRIIB was demonstrated by RT-PCR. Expression of betaA mRNA increased 2-fold across the gestational range examined. Activin subunits and receptors were localised by immunohistochemistry. The betaA subunit was expressed by oogonia, and the betaB subunit and activin receptors were expressed by both oogonia and somatic cells. BetaA expression was increased in larger oogonia at later gestations, but was low in oocytes within newly formed primordial follicles. Treatment of ovary fragments with activin A in vitro increased both the number of oogonia present and oogonial proliferation, as detected by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. These data indicate that activin may be involved in the autocrine and paracrine regulation of germ cell proliferation in the human ovary during the crucial period of development leading up to primordial follicle formation.

Source: Manual

Expression of activin subunits and receptors in the developing human ovary: activin A promotes germ cell survival and proliferation before primordial follicle formation.

Authors: Martins da Silva, S.J., Bayne, R.A.L., Cambray, N., Hartley, P.S., McNeilly, A.S. and Anderson, R.A.

Journal: Developmental biology

Volume: 266

Issue: 2

Pages: 334-345

eISSN: 1095-564X

ISSN: 0012-1606

DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2003.10.030

Abstract:

The formation of the essential functional unit of the ovary, the primordial follicle, occurs during fetal life in humans. Factors regulating oogonial proliferation and interaction with somatic cells before primordial follicle formation are largely unknown. We have investigated the expression, localisation and functional effects of activin and its receptors in the human fetal ovary at 14-21 weeks gestation. Expression of mRNA for the activin betaA and betaB subunits and the activin receptors ActRIIA and ActRIIB was demonstrated by RT-PCR. Expression of betaA mRNA increased 2-fold across the gestational range examined. Activin subunits and receptors were localised by immunohistochemistry. The betaA subunit was expressed by oogonia, and the betaB subunit and activin receptors were expressed by both oogonia and somatic cells. BetaA expression was increased in larger oogonia at later gestations, but was low in oocytes within newly formed primordial follicles. Treatment of ovary fragments with activin A in vitro increased both the number of oogonia present and oogonial proliferation, as detected by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. These data indicate that activin may be involved in the autocrine and paracrine regulation of germ cell proliferation in the human ovary during the crucial period of development leading up to primordial follicle formation.

Source: Europe PubMed Central