How the Oocyte Influences Follicular Cell Function and Why
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Springer-Verlag London 2013. During ovarian follicular development, bidirectional communication between oocytes and their companion somatic cells is indispensable. The oocyte plays a leading role in regulating follicular cell development and function including growth and proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, steroidogenesis, metabolism, and cumulus expansion. By modulating these critical functions, the oocyte orchestrates the rate of follicular development and creates a favorable microenvironment essential for its own development and destiny. A better understanding of the oocyte-somatic cell regulatory loop is essential for unraveling the myths surrounding oocyte developmental competence and may provide novel therapeutic strategies for female reproductive disorders resulting from defects in oocyte-follicle cell interactions.
