Biological role of mouse ovarian theca/ interstitial cells in the mechanism of follicle growth

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18568
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Morphology/Structure
• Research Institution: Nara Women's University
• Principal Investigator: Aoyama Masato 奈良女子大学, 理学部, 非常勤研究員 (60634813)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 莢膜・間質細胞 / RNA-seq / 卵巣 / 卵胞成長 / 二次卵胞 / Aspn/ PLAP1

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we performed transcriptomes of mouse ovarian theca/ interstitial cells by RNA-seq. Gene ontology analysis demonstrated that the theca/ interstitial cell-specific genes were largely categorized into four major groups. the specific and unique expression of newly detected representative genes, including nidogen 1 Spondin 1, and Aspn/ PLAP1, in theca cells and the adjacent interstitial cells of secondary, preantral and antral follicles were also confirmed. Particularly, expression of Aspn/PLAP1 was detected specifically in outer theca cells. Intriguingly, an Aspn/ PLAP1 antibody completely arrested the growth of secondary follicles which is gonadotropin-independent follicle developmental stage. Altogether, these results suggest that theca/ interstitial cells are classified into subpopulations on the basis of their functions, and provide evidence that Aspn/ PLAP1 is expressed exclusively in outer theca cells and plays a pivotal role in the growth of secondary follicles.

Free Research Field

生殖内分泌学