Bidirectional somatic cell–oocyte signaling is essential to create a changing intrafollicular
microenvironment that controls primordial follicle growth into a cohort of growing follicles …

Background Oocyte growth is accompanied by follicular development in mammalian
ovaries. Since the discovery of two oocyte‐derived factors, growth differentiation factor 9 …

Oocytes and their companion somatic cells maintain a close association throughout
oogenesis and this association is essential for normal oocyte and follicular development …

Female fertility is determined to a large extent by the quality (developmental competence) of
the oocyte as reflected in its ability to undergo meiosis, be fertilized, and give rise to a …

Cellular interactions in the mammalian ovarian follicle between its germ‐line and somatic
cell components are crucial for its development and function. These interactions are …

Oocyte-derived bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and growth differentiation factor 9
(GDF9) are key regulators of follicular development. Here we show that these factors control …

Intercellular communication between oocytes and granulosa cells is essential for normal
follicular differentiation and oocyte development. Subtraction hybridization was used to …

Homologous gap junctions are generally recognized as a means of coordinating cellular
behavior under developmental and homeostatic conditions. In the mammalian ovary …

Obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic disorders are major health issues worldwide. As
the epidemic of metabolic disorders continues, the associated medical co-morbidities …

Melatonin is a multifunctional molecule that mediates several circadian and seasonal
reproductive processes. The exact role of melatonin in modulating reproduction, however, is …