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Connective tissue growth factor is required for normal follicle development and ovulation
Takashi Nagashima1, Jaeyeon Kim, Qinglei Li
1Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Molecular Endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.)
|August 27, 2011
Summary
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is crucial for female reproduction, regulating follicle development and ovulation. Its absence in mice leads to severe subfertility and reproductive defects.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Endocrinology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a protein potentially regulated by TGF-β superfamily members.
- CTGF's specific role in female reproduction in vivo remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vivo function of CTGF in female reproduction.
- To elucidate the impact of CTGF deficiency on ovarian and uterine function.
Main Methods:
- Generation of ovarian and uterine conditional knockout (cKO) mice for Ctgf.
- Analysis of reproductive phenotypes, including follicle development, ovulation, and steroidogenesis.
- Assessment of granulosa cell apoptosis and gene expression, including Adamts1.
Main Results:
- Ctgf cKO mice displayed severe subfertility with disrupted follicle development and reduced ovulation rates.
- Increased granulosa cell apoptosis and altered steroidogenesis with elevated serum progesterone were observed.
- Gene expression in cKO granulosa cells mirrored findings from activin and Smad4 knockouts, with down-regulation of Adamts1.
Conclusions:
- CTGF is essential for normal follicle development and ovulation in female mice.
- CTGF acts as a downstream mediator in TGF-β and progesterone signaling pathways critical for reproduction.
- CTGF plays a vital role in regulating granulosa cell function and extracellular matrix remodeling during ovulation.
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