| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立中興大學 === 生物醫學研究所 === 94 === The ovarian follicle size was found to be related to the oocyte maturity in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in assisted reproductive cycles. Therefore, as the supporting system of the oocyte, the granulosa cells from follicles of different sizes may produce proteins and steroidogenic factors via the expression of gene to enhance the oocyte maturation process. The development of granulosa cells contributes to the formation of the follicular antrum, secreting fluids, ions, and proteins characteristic of the follicular fluid, and finally to become steroidogenic via de novo synthesis of steroidogenic factors, steroidogenic enzymes, and transcription factors that control this process. This requires a dramatic plasticity in gene function, modulated predominantly by FSH via activation of a receptor located on the membrane of granulosa cells. In recent years, it has been confirmed that intraovarian factors are also important in regulating follicular development in a paracrine or autocrine manner. We established a model to analyze the gene expression in human follicular granulosa cells at different maturity by using microarray. Of the 29098 human genes, we found 179 genes down regulated more than five folds and 212 genes up regulated more than five folds. Further identification demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) were up-regulated in the human follicular granulosa cells in concordance with the size and maturity of follicles. We found that the BDNF and NGFR may play certain role in the folliculogenesis and maturation of human oocyte before ovulation.
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