2023/06/13(Tue) 10:00 -11:30 一樓演講廳 1F, Auditorium
Title
Squeezing the eggs to grow: Mechanical control of ovarian follicle development
Speaker
Prof. Chii Jou Chan (Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore)Abstract
The formation of functional eggs within the ovarian follicles is a critical process of early mammalian development. While genetic studies have revealed key genes for oocyte functions, the underlying mechanisms driving follicle growth remain enigmatic. Recent studies showed that follicle growth is sensitive to mechanical environment, calling for a need to understand mechanical signalling within follicles. Here, we investigate the mechanical functions of theca cells (TCs), which sit on a basement membrane encapsulating the follicles. Using live imaging and ex vivo reconstitution, we demonstrate that the TCs are highly contractile and generate compressive stress to modulate follicle growth. We further found that the TCs are mechanosensitive to stretch and substrate stiffness, suggesting that the basement membrane may in turn regulate TC functions in vivo. We hypothesise that such mechanical feedback is essential for regulating follicle growth and oocyte functions through mechanotransduction pathways. I will also present preliminary work demonstrating the role of tissue mechanics in regulating the selection of dominant follicles during ovarian development. Our work has implications for future understanding and treatment of ovarian diseases and infertility.
Language
演講語言 (Language): in English