Cyclic AMP in oocytes controls meiotic prophase I and primordial folliculogenesis in the perinatal mouse ovary

• In mammalian ovaries, a fixed population of primordial follicles forms during the perinatal stage and the oocytes contained within are arrested at the dictyate stage of meiotic prophase I. In the current study, we provide evidence that the level of cyclic AMP ( cAMP) in oocytes regulates oocyte meiotic prophase I and primordial folliculogenesis in the perinatal mouse ovary. Our results show that the early meiotic development of oocytes is closely correlated with increased levels of intra-oocyte cAMP. Inhibiting cAMP synthesis in fetal ovaries delayed oocyte meiotic progression and inhibited the disassembly and degradation of synaptonemal complex protein 1. In addition, inhibiting cAMP synthesis in in vitro cultured fetal ovaries prevented primordial follicle formation. Finally, using an in situ oocyte chromosome analysis approach, we found that the dictyate arrest of oocytes is essential for primordial follicle formation under physiological conditions. Taken together, these results suggest a role for cAMP in early meiotic development and primordial follicle formation in the mouse ovary.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Utvecklingsbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Developmental Biology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

cAMP

Meiotic prophase I

Oocytes

Primordial follicle formation

MAMMALIAN SYNAPTONEMAL COMPLEX

NERVE GROWTH-FACTOR

GERM-CELL FATE

FOLLICLE FORMATION

RETINOIC ACID

MEIOSIS

FETAL

MICE

RAT

SPERMATOCYTES

Developmental Biology

LANI PE

1991

HUMAN GENETICS

V88

P64

FELICI M

1993

DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

V157

P277

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)