Instah > Health News > Researchers Identify Key Proteins Needed for Ovulation
Researchers Identify Key Proteins Needed for Ovulation
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health as well as belonging to other institutions have been able to identify two proteins in mice essential for ovulation process to take place.
These proteins known as ERK 1 and ERK seem to be able to ensure the maturation as well as the releasing of the egg.
Details of the Findings:
The findings are useful in the treatment of infertility caused by the failure of the occurrence of ovulation. They also help in the development of new means meant to prevent pregnancy by making sure that the release of egg is prevented.
The study appeared in the May 15th Science issue and was funded by the NIH institutes, the Eunice Kennedy Shiver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
The senior author of the study JoAnne Richards, Ph.D belonging to Bayor College of Medicine worked along with Esta Sterneck and Peter Johnson belonging to the NCIs Center for Cancer Research, along with Heng-Yu Fan and Zhilin Liu belonging to Baylor, Masayuki Shimada of Hirohshima University in Japan as well as Stephen Hedrick from University of California, San Diego.
Commenting on the work of the researchers, Duane Alexander M.D. Director of NICHD said,”Ovulation results from a complex interplay of chemical sequences. The researchers have identified a crucial biochemical intermediary controlling the release of the egg. The finding advances our understanding and may one day contribute to new treatments for infertility as well as new ways to prevent pregnancy from occurring.”
How the process of ovulation is affected by the new findings?
The egg that is immature is contained inside the covering of the cells, known to us as ovarian follicle. This follicle is made up of cells called granulose cells. Every month, the pituitary gland releases follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone which assist the egg and ovarian granulose cells that surround it to develop into a follicle that is mature and also helps it to grow. Somewhere midway through menstrual cycle of the woman, a large amount of luteinizing hormone is released by the pituitary, which leads to the rupture of the follicle, thus releasing the cell containing the egg. The granulose cells inside the ruptured follicle are transformed into luteal.
Previously, researchers were not aware of how the luteinizing hormone had triggered the ovary releasing the egg and how granulose cells produced progesterone. As part of the present study, the researchers observed that the luteinizing hormone seems to signal the release of molecules, which are known as extracellular-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1 and ERK 2). These molecules tend to trigger a series of chemical sequences that are able to ensure that the egg is released, that the granulosa cells are transformed into luteal cells as well as the production of the progesterone.
What is ERK1 and ERK 2 all about?
Project officer associated with at NICHD, Louis V De Paolo Ph.D., who is also the chief of NICHD Reproductive Sciences Branch says that ERK 1 and ERK2 happen to be a critical nexus between surges in luteinizing ovulation and hormone. “This is a key chemical pathway that affects not only ovulation, but egg cell maturation and granulosa cell differentiation into luteal cells.
How is ERK1 and ERK2 important to understand?
By understanding ERK1 and ERK2 one may come across important information for treating infertility among women. It can also provide ways to prevent ovulation from occurring, for developing new contraception says Dr. De Paolo.
Methodology Adopted
Mice that lacked genes to produce ERK1 and ERK2 were used for the conducting of the study. The ovaries of the mice used continued to produce eggs, but did not release them after being exposed to the luteinizing hormone. Also the granulosa cells were not transformed into luteal cells and produce progesterone, which happens to be the normal course of the events when both the genes are present. On the other hand, mice that had genes for ERK1 and ERK 2 which happen to be working versions were fertile.
Till now, no genes have been discovered that one can consider to be essential to both ovulation as well as the conversion of other cells to progesterone producers says Dr. Richards. She is of the view that ERK1 and ERK2 play an important role in stopping the growth of the granulosa cells, so that they finally take on the role of producing progesterone.
Related posts from Past:
