Gene Regulatory Networks Orchestrating Oocyte Fate Bifurcation in Primordial Follicles Revealed by Single-Cell Transcriptomics
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE290574 | GEO | 2026/04/24
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:The ability to grow undifferentiated oocytes in vitro from primordial follicles would increase the availability of fully grown oocytes in fertility preservation programs and other downstream applications. To date, the development of living offspring in vitro from the primordial follicle reserve has only been achieved in mice, proving the principle of the potential value of these follicle cultures as a source of competent oocytes. In certain pathophysiological conditions, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, premature ovarian failure, or in ovarian and blood cancer where the ovarian tissue cannot be reintroduced into the patient, it is essential to isolate these follicles from the surrounding tissue and culture them in vitro. However, culture systems to produce mature oocytes from the isolated primordial follicles are still experimental. Upon isolation from the ovarian microenvironment, a critical limiting factor is follicle death after a short period of culture. Our study defines a serum-free culture system capable of sustaining bovine primordial follicles to more than 60% viability for 24 hours. Using this system as a base, we employ RNA-Seq to advance the knowledge of the main transcriptional events and molecular factors determining follicle fate in a 2D culture system and suggest the role of ferroptosis in bringing about primordial follicle death. Future ameliorations to the culture system should not only inhibit such programmed cell death mechanisms but also ensure the physiological compliance of the genes regulating primordial follicle activation and transition to the primary stage with effective supplementation media to attain isolated primordial follicle development in vitro.
2025-06-18 | GSE283263 | GEO
Project description:In mammals, most immature oocytes remain dormant in the primordial follicles in order to ensure the longevity of female reproductive life. A precise understanding of mechanisms underlying the dormancy is important for reproductive biology and medicine. In this study, by comparing mouse oogenesis in vivo and in vitro, the latter of which bypasses the primordial follicle stage, we defined the gene expression profile representing the dormant state of oocytes. Overexpression of constitutively active FOXO3 partially reproduced the dormant state in vitro. Based on further gene expression analysis, we found that a hypoxic condition efficiently induced the dormant state in vitro. The effect of hypoxia was severely diminished by disruption of the Foxo3 gene and inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factors. Our findings provide insights into the importance of environmental conditions and their effectors for establishing the dormant state.
2019-05-28 | GSE128305 | GEO
Project description:The activation of dormant primordial follicles is a promising method for rescuing the infertility of aged women and premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) patients. Accumulating evidences in both human and animal suggest that human platelet-rich plasma (hPRP) has the ability to recover ovarian function and promote follicle growth, however the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the current study, we revealed that hPRP promoted the activation of primordial follicles and the proliferation of granulosa cells. hPRP treatments significantly increased the levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt) and forkhead Box O3a (FOXO3a), and the number of oocytes with FOXO3a nuclear export. The hPRP-induced primordial follicle activation could be blocked by LY294002, the inhibitor of PI3K/Akt. By in vivo injection newborn mice model and in vitro culture human ovarian fragments, hPRP was further proved to be effective in the activation of primordial follicles. Taken together, our results suggest that hPRP can promote the primordial follicle activation through the PI3K/Akt pathway. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of hPRP in aged women and POI patients.
2024-09-01 | GSE263743 | GEO
Project description:The residual dormant primordial follicles in aged women and patients with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) are difficult to activate in vivo. In this study, we found that PDE1A, PDE2A and PDE6D were expressed mainly in mouse primordial follicle oocytes and that PDE1A and PDE2A levels were significantly decreased during the activation of primordial follicles. The specific inhibitors of PDE1 (nimodipine), PDE2 (EHNA) and PDE5/6 (zaprinast) and the nonspecific PDE inhibitors theophylline derivatives (including aminophylline, dyphylline, enprofylline, choline theophyllinate, doxofylline, arofylline and lisofylline) activated mouse primordial follicles. These inhibitors also increased the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt) in cultured mouse ovaries. Moreover, the administration of aminophylline, dyphylline and enprofylline to neonatal mice by intraperitoneal injection and to adolescent mice by oral treatment increased the number of growing follicle and the levels of p-Akt in the ovaries. Importantly, the oral administration of aminophylline increased the quantity and quality of ovulated oocytes and the number of offspring in naturally aged mice. In addition, aminophylline, dyphylline and enprofylline activated human primordial follicles and increased p-Akt levels. Thus, theophylline derivatives activate primordial follicles by increasing cAMP levels and activating the PI3K/Akt pathway, and the oral administration of aminophylline increases fertility in naturally aged female mice. As oral medications, theophylline derivatives may be used to increase fertility in aged women and patients with POI.
2024-05-30 | GSE263843 | GEO
Project description:Primordial follicles are the first class of follicles formed in the mammalian ovary and are comprised of an oocyte surrounded by a layer of squamous pre-granulosa cells. This developmental class remains in a non-growing state until individual follicles activate to initiate folliculogenesis. What regulates the timing of follicle activation and the upstream signals that govern these processes are major unanswered questions in ovarian biology. This is partly due to the paucity of data on staged follicle cells since isolating and manipulating individual oocytes and somatic cells from early follicle stages are challenging. To date, most studies on isolated primordial follicles have been conducted on cells collected from animal-age- or oocyte size-specific samples, which encompass multiple follicular stages. Here, we report a method for collecting primordial follicles and their associated oocytes and somatic cells from neonatal murine ovaries using liberase, DNase I, and Accutase. This methodology allows for the identification and collection of follicles immediately post-activation enabling unprecedented interrogation of the primordial-to-primary follicle transition. Molecular profiling by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) revealed that processes including organelle disassembly and cadherin binding were enriched in oocytes and somatic cells as they transitioned from primordial to the primary follicle stage. Furthermore, targets including WNT4, TGFβ, FOXO3, and a network of transcription factors were identified in the transitioning oocytes and somatic cells as potential upstream regulators that collectively may drive follicle activation. Taken together, we have developed a more precise characterization and selection method for studying staged-follicle cells, revealing several novel regulators of early folliculogenesis.
2022-06-29 | GSE206681 | GEO
Project description:Female fertility is determined in part by the size and development of the primordial follicle pool. The current study investigates the role of glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the regulation of primordial follicle development in the ovary. Ovaries from four-day old female rat pups were maintained in organ culture for ten days in the absence (control) or presence of GDNF or kit ligand/stem cell factor (KL). Ovaries treated with GDNF contained a significant increase in developing follicles, similar to that observed with KL treatment previously shown to promote follicle development. The actions of GDNF on the ovarian transcriptome were investigated with a microarray analysis. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that GDNF is localized to oocyte cytoplasm in follicles of all developmental stages, as well as to cumulus granulosa cells and theca cells in antral follicles. GDNF receptor alpha 1 (GFRalpha1) staining was localized to oocyte cytoplasm of primordial and primary follicles, and at reduced levels in oocytes of antral follicles. GFRalpha1 was present in mural granulosa cells of antral follicles, theca cells, and the ovarian surface epithelium. The localization studies were confirmed with molecular analysis. Microarray analysis was used to identify changes in the ovarian transcriptome and further elucidate the signaling network regulating early follicle development. Observations indicate that GDNF promotes primordial follicle development and mediates autocrine and paracrine cell-cell interactions required during folliculogenesis. In contrast to the testis, ovarian GDNF is predominantly produced by germ cells (oocytes) rather than somatic cells. Experiment Overall Design: RNA samples from two control groups (pooled untreated cultured ovaries) are compared to two treated groups (pooled cultured ovaries treated with GDNF)
2008-06-11 | E-GEOD-11133 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Neurotrophins are growth factors that are known to have a role in promoting cell survival and differentiation. The focus of the current study is to examine the role of neurotrophins in regulating ovarian primordial follicle development. Ovaries from 4-day old rats were placed into organ culture and cultured for 10 days in the absence or presence of neurotrophin-3 (NT3), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), or nerve growth factor (NGF). Treatment of ovaries with NT3 resulted in a significant (P<0.01) increase in primordial follicle development (i.e. primordial to primary follicle transition). Treatment with BDNF at high doses of 100â250 ng/ml also significantly (P<0.01) increased primordial follicle development, but NGF had no effect. Immunohistochemical studies determined that NT3 was present in granulosa cells, interstitial tissue, and in the oocytes of primordial and primary follicles. The NT3 receptor NTRK3 was present in oocytes at all stages of development. Analysis of ovaries that contain predominantly primordial follicles demonstrated the transcripts for NT3, NTRK3, NGF, and the BDNF/neurotrophin-4 (NT4) receptor NTRK2 are expressed, while BDNF, NT4, and the NGF receptor NTRK1 are not detectable. Inhibition of the NTRK3 receptor with the tyrophostin AG 879 resulted in oocyte death and a significant (P<0.01) reduction in follicle pool size. Inhibition of the NTRK receptors with K252a slowed primordial to primary follicle transition. A microarray analysis demonstrated that a small number of genes were differentially expressed after NT3 treatment. Observations indicate that the neurotrophin NT3, acting through the NTRK3 receptor in oocytes, promotes the primordial to primary follicle transition. Reproduction (2009) 138, pp. 697-707 We used microarrays to determine genes expressed differentially between control and NT3 (neurotrophin-3) treated P4 ovary. RNA samples from 3 control groups are compared to 3 NT3 treated ovary groups.
2010-02-21 | E-GEOD-20358 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:The dormant population of ovarian primordial follicles is determined at birth and serves as the reservoir for future female fertility. Of equal importance to fertility is the rate that primordial follicles activate and enter folliculogenesis, yet our understanding of the molecular, biochemical, and cellular processes underpinning primordial follicle activation remains limited. The survival of primordial follicles relies on the correct complement and morphology of granulosa cells, which provide signalling factors essential for oocyte and follicular survival. To investigate the contribution of granulosa cells in the primordial-to-primary follicle transition, ovaries from C57Bl/6 mice were enzymatically dissociated at two time points spanning the initial wave of primordial follicle activation. Post-natal day (PND) 1 ovaries yielded primordial granulosa cells, and PND4 ovaries yielded a mixed population of both primordial and primary granulosa cells. The comparative transcriptome of granulosa cells at these time points was generated via the Illumina NextSeq 500 system which identified 132 significantly differentially expressed transcripts. This transcriptomic dataset confirmed the expression of factors known to be involved in primordial follicle activation belonging to TGF-B and EIF4E signalling pathways, as well as novel factors linked to pathways involved in primordial follicle activation (ZFX, POD1, FRZB). This study highlights the dynamic changes in gene expression of granulosa cells during primordial follicle activation and provides evidence for a renewed focus into the Wnt signalling pathway’s role in primordial follicle activation.
2020-12-10 | GSE162927 | GEO
Project description:Female fertility is determined in part by the size and development of the primordial follicle pool. The current study investigates the role of glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the regulation of primordial follicle development in the ovary. Ovaries from four-day old female rat pups were maintained in organ culture for ten days in the absence (control) or presence of GDNF or kit ligand/stem cell factor (KL). Ovaries treated with GDNF contained a significant increase in developing follicles, similar to that observed with KL treatment previously shown to promote follicle development. The actions of GDNF on the ovarian transcriptome were investigated with a microarray analysis. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that GDNF is localized to oocyte cytoplasm in follicles of all developmental stages, as well as to cumulus granulosa cells and theca cells in antral follicles. GDNF receptor alpha 1 (GFRalpha1) staining was localized to oocyte cytoplasm of primordial and primary follicles, and at reduced levels in oocytes of antral follicles. GFRalpha1 was present in mural granulosa cells of antral follicles, theca cells, and the ovarian surface epithelium. The localization studies were confirmed with molecular analysis. Microarray analysis was used to identify changes in the ovarian transcriptome and further elucidate the signaling network regulating early follicle development. Observations indicate that GDNF promotes primordial follicle development and mediates autocrine and paracrine cell-cell interactions required during folliculogenesis. In contrast to the testis, ovarian GDNF is predominantly produced by germ cells (oocytes) rather than somatic cells. Keywords: expression analysis, glial derived neurotrophic factor, follicle transition, ovary
2008-04-11 | GSE11133 | GEO
Project description:Primordial follicle assembly is a process that occurs in the embryonic or early post natal ovary in which oocyte nests break down to form individual primordial follicles. The size of this initial pool of primordial follicles in part determines the reproductive lifespan of the female. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was identified as a potential regulatory candidate for this process in a previous microarray analysis of follicle development. The current study examines the effects of CTGF and associated transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFbeta-1) on follicle assembly. Ovaries were removed from newborn rat pups and placed in an organ culture system for two days to measure the effect of these factors on follicle assembly. In addition, ovaries were cultured and treated for ten days to determine the potential of CTGF and TGFbeta-1 to manipulate the primordial follicle pool size over a longer developmental time period. The ovaries treated with CTGF for two days were found to have an increased proportion of assembled follicles. TGFbeta-1 had no effect on primordial follicle assembly and in combination with CTGF decreased oocyte number in the ovary after two days of culture. Over ten days of treatment only the combined treatment of CTGF and TGFbeta-1 was found to cause an increase in the proportion of assembled follicles. Interestingly, treatment with TGFbeta-1 alone resulted in fewer total oocytes in the ovary and decreased the primordial follicle pool size after ten days of culture. Observations indicate that CTGF alone or in combination with TGFbeta-1 stimulates primordial follicle assembly and TGFbeta-1 can decrease the primordial follicle pool size. CTGF was found to regulate the ovarian transcriptome during primordial follicle assembly and an integrative network of genes was identified. CTGF is one of the first growth factors shown to promote primordial follicle assembly, while TGFbeta-1 is one of the first factors shown to decrease the primordial follicle pool size. These observations suggest the possibility of manipulating primordial follicle pool size and influencing female reproductive lifespan. We used microarrays to determine genes expressed differentially between control and CTGF (connective tissue growth factor) treated P0 ovary RNA samples from 3 control groups are compared to 3 CTGF treated ovary groups
2010-09-16 | E-GEOD-22096 | biostudies-arrayexpress