The Ovary

A prerequisite to the understanding of the ovarian diseases and infertility is a thorough understanding of normal embryology and physiology of the ovary. Therefore, the objective of this review article is to provide brief and updated information on the molecular basis of the events that control gonadal development, germ cell formation, folliculogenesis, and ovulation.

[1]  J. Richards,et al.  Genetics of ovulation. , 2007, Seminars in reproductive medicine.

[2]  D. Russell,et al.  Molecular mechanisms of ovulation: co-ordination through the cumulus complex. , 2007, Human reproduction update.

[3]  K. Oktay,et al.  The Role of Extracellular Matrix and Activin-A in In Vitro Growth and Survival of Murine Preantral Follicles , 2007, Reproductive Sciences.

[4]  Anne E Carpenter,et al.  In germ cells of mouse embryonic ovaries, the decision to enter meiosis precedes premeiotic DNA replication , 2006, Nature Genetics.

[5]  K. Oktay,et al.  Measuring the impact of chemotherapy on fertility in women with breast cancer. , 2006, Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

[6]  Phil G Knight,et al.  TGF-beta superfamily members and ovarian follicle development. , 2006, Reproduction.

[7]  Shweta Sharma,et al.  A unique preovulatory expression pattern plays a key role in the physiological functions of BMP-15 in the mouse. , 2006, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[8]  M. Skinner,et al.  Keratinocyte Growth Factor Acts as a Mesenchymal Factor That Promotes Ovarian Primordial to Primary Follicle Transition , 2005, Biology of reproduction.

[9]  M. Skinner Regulation of primordial follicle assembly and development. , 2005, Human reproduction update.

[10]  D. Schlessinger,et al.  Foxl2 is required for commitment to ovary differentiation. , 2005, Human molecular genetics.

[11]  J. Visser,et al.  Anti-Müllerian hormone and folliculogenesis , 2005, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology.

[12]  P. G. Knight,et al.  Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) -4, -6, and -7 potently suppress basal and luteinizing hormone-induced androgen production by bovine theca interna cells in primary culture: could ovarian hyperandrogenic dysfunction be caused by a defect in thecal BMP signaling? , 2005, Endocrinology.

[13]  S. Keeney,et al.  Distinct DNA-damage-dependent and -independent responses drive the loss of oocytes in recombination-defective mouse mutants. , 2005, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[14]  P. Donovan,et al.  Primordial germ cell migration. , 2004, Developmental biology.

[15]  Martin M Matzuk,et al.  NOBOX Deficiency Disrupts Early Folliculogenesis and Oocyte-Specific Gene Expression , 2004, Science.

[16]  K. Parker,et al.  Disrupted gonadogenesis and male-to-female sex reversal in Pod1 knockout mice , 2004, Development.

[17]  P. Beck‐Peccoz,et al.  Hypergonadotropic ovarian failure associated with an inherited mutation of human bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP15) gene. , 2004, American journal of human genetics.

[18]  J. Brennan,et al.  One tissue, two fates: molecular genetic events that underlie testis versus ovary development , 2004, Nature Reviews Genetics.

[19]  D. Page,et al.  Follistatin operates downstream of Wnt4 in mammalian ovary organogenesis , 2004, Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists.

[20]  M. Mullen,et al.  Mutations in the Genes for Oocyte-Derived Growth Factors GDF9 and BMP15 Are Associated with Both Increased Ovulation Rate and Sterility in Cambridge and Belclare Sheep (Ovis aries)1 , 2004, Biology of reproduction.

[21]  M. Skinner,et al.  Kit ligand and basic fibroblast growth factor interactions in the induction of ovarian primordial to primary follicle transition , 2004, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology.

[22]  C. Kemp,et al.  Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) ligands and receptors in bovine ovarian follicle cells: actions of BMP-4, -6 and -7 on granulosa cells and differential modulation of Smad-1 phosphorylation by follistatin. , 2004, Reproduction.

[23]  F. Otsuka,et al.  The bone morphogenetic protein system in mammalian reproduction. , 2004, Endocrine reviews.

[24]  C. Jang,et al.  Electro-Acupuncture Reverses Nerve Growth Factor Abundance in Experimental Polycystic Ovaries in the Rat , 2004, Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation.

[25]  D. Dewailly,et al.  Elevated serum level of anti-mullerian hormone in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: relationship to the ovarian follicle excess and to the follicular arrest. , 2003, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[26]  D. Accili,et al.  Testis determination requires insulin receptor family function in mice , 2003, Nature.

[27]  J. Denegre,et al.  Oocyte-dependent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2) in cumulus cells is required for the maturation of the mouse oocyte-cumulus cell complex. , 2003, Developmental biology.

[28]  J. Stark,et al.  Formation and early development of follicles in the polycystic ovary , 2003, The Lancet.

[29]  K. Abe,et al.  Conserved Role of nanos Proteins in Germ Cell Development , 2003, Science.

[30]  J. Richards,et al.  Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Ovarian Gene Transcription Following an Ovulatory Dose of Gonadotropin in the Rat1 , 2002, Biology of reproduction.

[31]  F. Broekmans,et al.  Serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels: a novel measure of ovarian reserve. , 2002, Human reproduction.

[32]  M. Surani,et al.  A molecular programme for the specification of germ cell fate in mice , 2002, Nature.

[33]  A. Durlinger,et al.  Anti-Müllerian Hormone Inhibits Initiation of Primordial Follicle Growth in the Mouse Ovary. , 2002, Endocrinology.

[34]  M. Skinner,et al.  Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) promotes the primordial to primary follicle transition in rat ovaries , 2002, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology.

[35]  C. Rao,et al.  Consequences of targeted inactivation of LH receptors , 2002, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology.

[36]  B. Fauser,et al.  Antimüllerian hormone serum levels: a putative marker for ovarian aging. , 2002, Fertility and sterility.

[37]  J. Eppig Oocyte control of ovarian follicular development and function in mammals. , 2001, Reproduction.

[38]  S. Shimasaki,et al.  Biological Function and Cellular Mechanism of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-6 in the Ovary* , 2001, The Journal of Biological Chemistry.

[39]  A. Schedl,et al.  Two Splice Variants of the Wilms' Tumor 1 Gene Have Distinct Functions during Sex Determination and Nephron Formation , 2001, Cell.

[40]  M. Matzuk,et al.  Synergistic roles of bone morphogenetic protein 15 and growth differentiation factor 9 in ovarian function. , 2001, Molecular endocrinology.

[41]  G. Kidder,et al.  Intercellular communication via connexin43 gap junctions is required for ovarian folliculogenesis in the mouse. , 2001, Developmental biology.

[42]  S. Ojeda,et al.  Nerve growth factor is required for early follicular development in the mammalian ovary. , 2001, Endocrinology.

[43]  S. Soyal,et al.  FIGalpha, a germ cell-specific transcription factor required for ovarian follicle formation. , 2000, Development.

[44]  K. Oktay,et al.  Interaction of Extracellular Matrix and Activin-A in the Initiation of Follicle Growth in the Mouse Ovary1 , 2000, Biology of reproduction.

[45]  O. Birk,et al.  The LIM homeobox gene Lhx9 is essential for mouse gonad formation , 2000, Nature.

[46]  A. Kispert,et al.  Female Development in Mammals is Regulated by Wnt-4-Signaling , 1999 .

[47]  A. McMahon,et al.  Female development in mammals is regulated by Wnt-4 signalling , 1999, Nature.

[48]  A. Gansmuller,et al.  Impairing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) signaling in vivo: targeted disruption of the FSH receptor leads to aberrant gametogenesis and hormonal imbalance. , 1998, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[49]  Y. Katoh-Fukui,et al.  Male-to-female sex reversal in M33 mutant mice , 1998, Nature.

[50]  K. Oktay,et al.  Development of human primordial follicles to antral stages in SCID/hpg mice stimulated with follicle stimulating hormone. , 1998, Human reproduction.

[51]  K. Oktay,et al.  Ontogeny of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor gene expression in isolated human ovarian follicles. , 1997, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[52]  M. Ruggiu,et al.  The mouse Dazla gene encodes a cytoplasmic protein essential for gametogenesis , 1997, Nature.

[53]  S. Chun,et al.  Preantral Ovarian Follicles in Serum-Free Culture: Suppression of Apoptosis after Activation of the Cyclic Guanosine 3',5'-Monophosphate Pathway and Stimulation of Growth and Differentiation by Follicle-Stimulating Hormone. , 1997, Endocrinology.

[54]  S. Aizawa,et al.  Defects of urogenital development in mice lacking Emx2. , 1997, Development.

[55]  R. Cortvrindt,et al.  Assessment of the need for follicle stimulating hormone in early preantral mouse follicle culture in vitro. , 1997, Human reproduction.

[56]  David F. Albertini,et al.  Growth differentiation factor-9 is required during early ovarian folliculogenesis , 1996, Nature.

[57]  J. Drago,et al.  Mice homozygous for an insertional mutation in the Zp3 gene lack a zona pellucida and are infertile. , 1996, Development.

[58]  K. Parker,et al.  A cell-specific nuclear receptor is essential for adrenal and gonadal development and sexual differentiation , 1994, Cell.

[59]  A. Bukovsky,et al.  Cellular localization of luteinizing hormone receptor immunoreactivity in the ovaries of immature, gonadotropin-primed and normal cycling rats. , 1993, Biology of reproduction.

[60]  R. Nakano,et al.  Immunohistochemical localization of inhibin/activin subunits in human ovarian follicles during the menstrual cycle. , 1992, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[61]  H. Shibai,et al.  Induction of follicle stimulating hormone receptor by erythroid differentiation factor on rat granulosa cell. , 1988, Biochemical and biophysical research communications.

[62]  J. Vaughan,et al.  Heterodimers and homodimers of inhibin subunits have different paracrine action in the modulation of luteinizing hormone-stimulated androgen biosynthesis. , 1987, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[63]  A. Rajkovic,et al.  Transcriptional regulation of early oogenesis: in search of masters. , 2006, Human reproduction update.

[64]  O. Hovatta,et al.  Growth differentiation factor-9 promotes the growth, development, and survival of human ovarian follicles in organ culture. , 2002, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[65]  L. Layman,et al.  The role of LH and FSH in ovarian androgen secretion and ovarian follicular development: clinical studies in a patient with isolated FSH deficiency and multicystic ovaries. , 2002, Human reproduction.

[66]  C. Rao,et al.  Targeted disruption of luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptor gene. , 2001, Molecular endocrinology.

[67]  A. Durlinger,et al.  Printed in U.S.A. Copyright © 1999 by The Endocrine Society Control of Primordial Follicle Recruitment by Anti-Müllerian Hormone in the Mouse Ovary* , 2022 .

[68]  P. Donovan,et al.  Growth factor regulation of mouse primordial germ cell development. , 1994, Current topics in developmental biology.

[69]  H. Merchant-Larios,et al.  Morphogenesis of the ovary from the sterile W/Wv mouse. , 1981, Progress in clinical and biological research.

[70]  M. E. Simpson,et al.  Embryology of the Ovary and Testis, Homo Sapiens and Macaca Mulatta , 1965 .

[71]  H. Mizunuma,et al.  Effects of growth hormone, activin, and follistatin on the development of preantral follicle from immature female mice. , 1998, Endocrinology.

[72]  M. Matzuk,et al.  Printed in U.S.A. Copyright © 2001 by The Endocrine Society Anti-Müllerian Hormone Attenuates the Effects of FSH on Follicle Development in the Mouse Ovary , 2022 .