Meiotic arrest of oocytes depends on cell-to-cell communication in the ovarian follicle

作者：Edry Iris; Sela Abramovich Sagit; Dekel Nava^*

来源：Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 2006, 252(1-2): 102-106.

DOI：10.1016/k.mce.2006.03.009

• ovarian follicles
• meiosis
• oocyte
• gap junctions
• Connexin 43

The source of the inhibitory levels of cAMP that maintain oocytes meiotically arrested is under controversy. A model for regulation of the meiotic division that suggests the transfer of a somatic follicular cells-derived cAMP into the oocyte via gap junctions was first proposed by us in 1978. Later studies provide strong evidence that established gap-junctional communication within the ovarian follicle is indispensable for maintenance of meiotic arrest. On the other hand, other recent reports suggest that oocytes generate their own inhibitory cAMP by a G protein-coupled receptor-activated Gs. These studies as well as other recent reports related to this topic are thoroughly discussed in this chapter.