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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Ovarian Tissue Culture to Visualize Phenomena in Mouse Ovary
04:30

Ovarian Tissue Culture to Visualize Phenomena in Mouse Ovary

Published on: June 19, 2018

Leucine Promotes Mouse Primordial Follicle Activation Via the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway.

Yating Huang1, Hongwei Wei1, Wenbo Zhang1

  • 1The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

Molecular Reproduction and Development
|May 27, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Leucine, a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA), activates dormant primordial follicles in mice by influencing the PI3K/Akt pathway. This suggests leucine could be a potential oral supplement for treating infertility in premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) patients.

Keywords:
Aktleucinepremature ovarian insufficiencyprimordial follicle activation

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2026

Ovarian Tissue Culture to Visualize Phenomena in Mouse Ovary
04:30

Ovarian Tissue Culture to Visualize Phenomena in Mouse Ovary

Published on: June 19, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is characterized by dormant primordial follicles that are difficult to activate.
  • Identifying methods to stimulate these follicles is crucial for treating POI-related infertility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) on activating dormant primordial follicles in mice.
  • To elucidate the molecular pathway involved in BCAA-mediated follicle activation.

Main Methods:

  • Culturing neonatal mouse ovaries with BCAAs (leucine, isoleucine, valine).
  • Assessing primordial follicle activation and measuring levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt) and phosphorylated forkhead Box O3a (p-FOXO3a).
  • Utilizing PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitors (LY294002, PI3K-IN-1) and in vivo administration of leucine.

Main Results:

  • Leucine significantly promoted primordial follicle activation in cultured ovaries.
  • Leucine increased p-Akt and p-FOXO3a levels, leading to FOXO3a nuclear export.
  • Inhibitors of the PI3K/Akt pathway reversed leucine's effects; in vivo leucine administration increased growing follicles.

Conclusions:

  • Leucine activates mouse primordial follicles via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
  • Leucine holds potential as an oral supplement for managing infertility in POI patients with residual dormant follicles.