Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Upright Imaging of Drosophila Egg Chambers
12:29

Upright Imaging of Drosophila Egg Chambers

Published on: March 13, 2015

Distinct expression pattern of Dicer1 correlates with ovarian-derived steroid hormone receptor expression in human

Ruijin Shao1, Anders Norström, Birgitta Weijdegård

  • 1Department of Physiology/Endocrinology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden. ruijin.shao@fysiologi.gu.se

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|February 25, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Dicer1 expression in human Fallopian tubes increases during ovulation. This stage-dependent regulation of Dicer1, along with its link to steroid hormone receptors, suggests a role in human tubal transport.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Molecular Endocrinology
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Dicer1 is crucial for Fallopian tube function in mice, but its role in humans is unknown.
  • Understanding Dicer1's regulation is key to understanding human Fallopian tube physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate Dicer1 expression regulation during human ovulation and the midsecretory phase.
  • Assess Dicer1's impact on estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed human Fallopian tube tissues from different ovulatory and midsecretory phases.
  • Utilized immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, and quantitative RT-PCR to assess Dicer1, ER, and PR levels.
  • Correlated tissue expression with serum hormone levels to confirm cyclical phases.

Main Results:

  • Dicer1 protein and mRNA peaked in the late ovulatory phase, primarily in epithelial cells.
  • Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA levels varied across phases, with specific subtypes showing distinct patterns.
  • Dicer1 mRNA expression correlated with ERα, ERβ2, and PRB mRNA levels, indicating complex interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Dicer1 expression is upregulated in a cell-specific manner in human Fallopian tubes during ovulation.
  • Stage-dependent Dicer1 expression suggests a role in regulating steroid hormone receptors cyclically.
  • Tubal Dicer1 may contribute to human Fallopian tube transport function.

More Related Videos

Isolation of Small Preantral Follicles from the Bovine Ovary Using a Combination of Fragmentation, Homogenization, and Serial Filtration09:11

Isolation of Small Preantral Follicles from the Bovine Ovary Using a Combination of Fragmentation, Homogenization, and Serial Filtration

Published on: September 27, 2022

Ovarian Tissue Culture to Visualize Phenomena in Mouse Ovary04:30

Ovarian Tissue Culture to Visualize Phenomena in Mouse Ovary

Published on: June 19, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Ovarian Cycle01:27

Ovarian Cycle

The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle length...
Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle01:30

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

The ovarian cycle is meticulously regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This cycle orchestrates the release of a mature oocyte, essential for reproduction.
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle.  At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...
Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle01:22

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH release.
Oogenesis02:07

Oogenesis

In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
Oogenesis01:22

Oogenesis

Oogenesis,  the process of developing egg cells (female gametes), occurs within the ovaries and is fundamental to female fertility. This sequence begins during fetal development when diploid oogonia in the developing ovaries undergo mitotic divisions to produce primary oocytes. By birth, these primary oocytes enter prophase I of meiosis but become arrested in this stage, remaining suspended until puberty.
Each primary oocyte is surrounded by a layer of pre-granulosa cells, forming what is known...
Folliculogenesis01:20

Folliculogenesis

Folliculogenesis is the development of ovarian follicles, the specialized structures within the ovarian cortex where oogenesis, or egg development, occurs. This process is essential for female reproductive health and begins during fetal development when primordial follicles are formed. Each primordial follicle comprises a primary oocyte in the center, surrounded by a single layer of squamous pre-granulosa cells. These follicles remain dormant in late prophase I of meiosis until triggered by...