Participation of preovulatory follicles in the activation of primordial follicles in mouse ovaries

作者：Jingwen Zhang, Wenzhe Xia, Jiaqi Zhou, Shaogang Qin, Lin Lin, Ting Zhao, Huarong Wang, Chen Mi, Yifan Hu, Zixuan Chen, Tianhua Zhu, Xinyu Yang, Tuo Zhang, Guoliang Xia, Yuwen Ke, Chao Wang · 发表于：International Journal of Biological Sciences · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.7150/ijbs.95020 · 被引用次数：15 · 研究领域：Reproductive Biology and Fertility、Ovarian function and disorders、Reproductive System and Pregnancy

The mechanisms behind the selection and initial recruitment of primordial follicles (PmFs) from the non-growing PmF pool during each estrous cycle in females remain largely unknown. This study demonstrates that PmFs closest to the ovulatory follicle are preferentially activated in mouse ovaries under physiological conditions. PmFs located within 40 μm of the ovulatory follicles were more likely to be activated compared to those situated further away during the peri-ovulation period. Repeated superovulation treatments accelerated the depletion of the PmF reserve, whereas continuous suppression of ovulation delayed PmF reserve consumption. Spatial transcriptome sequencing of peri-ovulatory follicles revealed that ovulation primarily induces the degradation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This ECM degradation reduces mechanical stress around PmFs, thereby triggering their activation. Specifically, Cathepsin L (CTSL), a cysteine proteinase and lysosomal enzyme involved in ECM degradation, initiates the activation of PmFs adjacent to ovulatory follicles in a distance-dependent manner. These findings highlight the link between ovulation and selective PmF activation, and underscore the role of CTSL in this process under physiological conditions.