Granulosa cell ligand NPPC and its receptor NPR2 maintain meiotic arrest in mouse oocytes.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2010
Keywords
Cumulus-Cells, Cyclic-AMP, Cyclic-GMP, Female, Granulosa-Cells, Intercellular-Signaling-Peptides-and-Proteins, Ligands, Meiosis, Mice, Models-Biological, Mutation, Natriuretic-Peptide-C-Type, Oocytes, Ovarian-Follicle, Protein-Precursors, RNA-Messenger, Receptors-Atrial-Natriuretic-Factor, Signal-Transduction
First Page
366
Last Page
369
JAX Source
Science 2010; 330(6002):366-9.
Abstract
Granulosa cells of mammalian Graafian follicles maintain oocytes in meiotic arrest, which prevents their precocious maturation. We show that mouse mural granulosa cells, which line the follicle wall, express natriuretic peptide precursor type C (Nppc) messenger RNA (mRNA), whereas cumulus cells surrounding oocytes express mRNA of the NPPC receptor NPR2, a guanylyl cyclase. NPPC increased cGMP levels in cumulus cells and oocytes and inhibited meiotic resumption in vitro. Meiotic arrest was not sustained in most Graafian follicles of Nppc or Npr2 mutant mice, and meiosis resumed precociously. Oocyte-derived paracrine factors promoted cumulus cell expression of Npr2 mRNA. Therefore, the granulosa cell ligand NPPC and its receptor NPR2 in cumulus cells prevent precocious meiotic maturation, which is critical for maturation and ovulation synchrony and for normal female fertility.
Recommended Citation
Zhang M,
Su YQ,
Sugiura K,
Xia G,
Eppig JJ.
Granulosa cell ligand NPPC and its receptor NPR2 maintain meiotic arrest in mouse oocytes. Science 2010; 330(6002):366-9.