Page 14 - PRECONGRESS COURSE 03

Background 1960‐1980
● An endocrine gland is born—the source of follicular‐phase estrogens is defined as a cooperative venture between granulosa and theca cells (Ryan and colleagues)
● The oocyte prevents the follicle from prematurely luteinizing (Nalbandov, Channing, Tsafriri)
● Factors postulated to mediate the steroidogenic competencies
of the follicle
Paracrine Effectors: Oocyte Soma GDF‐9 KL BMP‐15 BMP4/6 FGF‐8 VEGF
Background 1980‐2015
● The oocyte‐follicle unit becomes recognized as a heterogeneous syncytium of discrete cell types charged with integrating the endocrine and germ cell supportive functions through symbiotic mechanisms involving multiple forms of cell communication.
● First form of communication identified as gap junctions
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