PUBLICATION
Spatiotemporal Expression of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Family Ligands and Receptors in the Zebrafish Ovary: A Potential Paracrine-Signaling Mechanism for Oocyte-Follicle Cell Communication
- Authors
- Li, C.W., and Ge, W.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-110713-36
- Date
- 2011
- Source
- Biology of reproduction 85(5): 977-86 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Ge, Wei
- Keywords
- follicular development, ovary, zebrafish, BMP, bone morphogenetic proteins
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2/metabolism
- Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4/metabolism
- Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors/metabolism*
- Cell Communication/physiology*
- Cells, Cultured
- Female
- Ligands
- Models, Animal
- Oocytes/cytology*
- Oocytes/physiology
- Ovarian Follicle/cytology*
- Ovarian Follicle/physiology
- Ovary/metabolism*
- Paracrine Communication/physiology*
- Phosphorylation
- Phylogeny
- Smad Proteins/metabolism
- Tissue Distribution
- Zebrafish/metabolism*
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
- PubMed
- 21734261 Full text @ Biol. Reprod.
Citation
Li, C.W., and Ge, W. (2011) Spatiotemporal Expression of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Family Ligands and Receptors in the Zebrafish Ovary: A Potential Paracrine-Signaling Mechanism for Oocyte-Follicle Cell Communication. Biology of reproduction. 85(5):977-86.
Abstract
The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), originally identified by their abilities to induce bone and/or cartilage formation,
have been reported to be involved in various growth and differentiation processes including reproduction. While mammalian
models are more frequently used to study the BMP system in reproduction, we have extended the study to the zebrafish, an excellent
model for studying female reproduction in teleosts. RT-PCR analysis revealed the expression of the Bmp ligands (bmp2a, bmp2b, bmp4, bmp6, and bmp7a) and the type-II Bmp receptors (bmpr2a and bmpr2b) in various tissues including the ovary. Spatiotemporal distribution of these Bmp ligands and receptors in the ovary was
then investigated in this study. RT-PCR on isolated follicle layers and denuded oocytes demonstrated that all Bmp ligands
examined were exclusively or abundantly expressed in the oocyte while the two receptors were expressed exclusively in the
follicle layers, strongly suggesting a potential paracrine signaling from the oocyte towards the follicle layer by various
Bmp ligands. This supports the current view that instead of being passively controlled and nurtured by the follicle layer
for its growth and development, the oocyte may play an active role by releasing various growth differentiation factors to
regulate follicle layer function. Quantitative analysis of temporal expression profiles during folliculogenesis revealed an
increased expression of bmp2a, bmp2b, bmp4, and bmp6 from primary growth (PG, Stage I) to previtellogenic (PV, Stage II) stage followed by steady declines towards the end of
folliculogenesis when the follicles became fully grown. On the contrast, the BMP receptors (bmpr2a and bmpr2b) consistently showed an increase in expression during folliculogenesis with the peak levels reached at the full-grown stage
(FG) prior to final oocyte maturation. The spatiotemporal expression patterns of the Bmp family in the zebrafish follicles
provide important insights into potential roles of Bmps during follicle development as oocyte-derived factors. Further experiment
using recombinant zebrafish Bmp4 showed that Bmp4 had an inhibitory effect on spontaneous but not 17alpha, 20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one
(DHP)-induced oocyte maturation in vitro.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping