The ovary: basic biology and clinical implications

The classical view of ovarian follicle development is that it is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, in which gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) controls the release of the gonadotropic hormones follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), and that ovarian st...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of clinical investigation 2010-04, Vol.120 (4), p.963-972
Main Authors: Richards, Joanne S, Pangas, Stephanie A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological control systems
Biomedical research
Cell Differentiation
Cellular signal transduction
Diagnosis
Female
Follicle Stimulating Hormone - physiology
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Follicles
Forkhead Box Protein L2
Forkhead Box Protein O3
Forkhead Transcription Factors - genetics
Forkhead Transcription Factors - physiology
Gene mutations
Genetic aspects
Hormones
Humans
Hypothalamus
Identification and classification
Infertility
Medical examination
Menstruation
Methods
Oocytes - growth & development
Ovarian Follicle - growth & development
Ovaries
Ovary - physiology
Ovulation
Review
Transforming Growth Factor beta - physiology
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Summary:The classical view of ovarian follicle development is that it is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, in which gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) controls the release of the gonadotropic hormones follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), and that ovarian steroids exert both negative and positive regulatory effects on GnRH secretion. More recent studies in mice and humans indicate that many other intra-ovarian signaling cascades affect follicular development and gonadotropin action in a stage- and context-specific manner. As we discuss here, mutant mouse models and clinical evidence indicate that some of the most powerful intra-ovarian regulators of follicular development include the TGF-beta/SMAD, WNT/FZD/beta-catenin, and RAS/ERK1/2 signaling pathways and the FOXO/FOXL2 transcription factors.
ISSN:0021-9738
1558-8238
DOI:10.1172/JCI41350