Roles of CNP signaling pathway in follicular development and atresia

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25450395
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Animal production science
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: tsuji takehito 岡山大学, 環境生命科学研究科, 准教授 (90314682)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): YASODA akihiro 京都大学, 大学院医学研究科, 講師 (50378642) ; KUNIEDA Tetsuo 岡山大学, 大学院自然科学研究科, 教授 (80178011)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: CNP / 卵胞 / 卵胞閉鎖

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we investigated whether C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) functions to regulate follicular development and atresia. The numbers of ovarian follicles in mice injected with CNP and CNP transgenic mice showed no difference compared with those of normal mice. We showed the expression of Npr3 gene in granulosa cells of ovarian follicles, but no alterations were observed in the ovary of mice with a mutation in Npr3 gene. Next, we investigated CNP function in cultured early antral follicles, and found that a moderate inhibitory effect of CNP on apoptosis in granulosa cells. We conclude that CNP may have the potential to control follicular atresia via inhibition of apoptosis in granulosa cells.

Free Research Field

動物遺伝学