Evidence that androgens are the primary steroids produced by Xenopus laevis ovaries and may signal through the classical androgen receptor to promote oocyte maturation.

ABSTRACT: Steroid-induced maturation of Xenopus oocytes has long served as a model for studying meiosis. Progesterone has been considered the relevant steroid controlling maturation, perhaps through interactions with classical progesterone receptors. In this study, we provide evidence that androgens, rather than progesterone, are the physiologic mediators of Xenopus oocyte maturation. Androgens were equal or more potent activators of maturation in vitro relative to progesterone and were significantly more abundant in the serum and ovaries of beta-human chorionic growth hormone-stimulated frogs. Androgen action appeared to be mediated by classical androgen receptors (ARs) expressed in oocytes, as androgen-induced maturation and signaling was specifically attenuated by AR antagonists. Interestingly, w

SUBMITTER: Lutz LB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC61109 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature