News | New Molecular Interaction Map Reveals How Ovarian Ovulation Works
An interdisciplinary team at Cornell University recently used advanced RNA tagging technology to map gene expression during mouse follicle maturation and ovulation. The study revealed many previously unknown cellular and molecular interactions that are essential to female fertility. The findings may open a new avenue for infertility treatment.
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on January 22, 2024. It was co-led by Iwijn De Vlaminck, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Cornell University, and Yi Ren, assistant professor of animal science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The lead author was Madhav Mantri, a Cornell doctoral graduate who is now a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University.
De Vlaminck previously used high-resolution spatiotemporal transcriptomics to study the full spectrum of RNA in mouse tissues, revealing RNA's role in skeletal muscle regeneration and viral myocarditis. This transcriptomic technique converts RNA into DNA copies, uses barcodes to capture their spatial locations, and transforms the data into images.
In 2022, De Vlaminck presented his myocarditis research at an immunology seminar, sparking Ren's interest. She wondered whether the method could be applied to her field to unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate ovulation.
Ovulation requires precise coordination between female germ cells, or oocytes, and the rupture of follicles, which provide the environment for oocyte growth and maturation. In mice, follicular rupture occurs every four to five days; in women, it occurs about every four weeks. Once an oocyte leaves the ovary, it quickly loses viability, making the timing of release critical.
By tracking different cell types in mouse ovaries at high spatiotemporal resolution, the team discovered an additional selection process that follicles undergo during the hour before ovulation. This process had not previously been identified, and when disrupted it may reduce the ovulation rate and affect fertility.
In addition to revealing the follicle selection process, the study identified differentiation pathways followed by ovarian cells during the early and late stages of ovulation. These findings provide foundational insights for structural biology and point toward new infertility treatments.
De Vlaminck and Ren next plan to investigate fertility and ovulation issues associated with obesity and reproductive aging. Their research may offer hope to the more than 10% of patients whose infertility is caused by ovulatory failure, particularly in the context of obesity and increasing maternal age.
The study was funded by the Cornell Center for Vertebrate Genomics and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
News | New Molecular Interaction Map Reveals How Ovarian Ovulation Works
News | New Molecular Interaction Map Reveals How Ovarian Ovulation Works
An interdisciplinary team at Cornell University recently used advanced RNA tagging technology to map gene expression during mouse follicle maturation and ovulation. The study revealed many previously unknown cellular and molecular interactions that are essential to female fertility. The findings may open a new avenue for infertility treatment.
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on January 22, 2024. It was co-led by Iwijn De Vlaminck, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Cornell University, and Yi Ren, assistant professor of animal science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The lead author was Madhav Mantri, a Cornell doctoral graduate who is now a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University.
De Vlaminck previously used high-resolution spatiotemporal transcriptomics to study the full spectrum of RNA in mouse tissues, revealing RNA's role in skeletal muscle regeneration and viral myocarditis. This transcriptomic technique converts RNA into DNA copies, uses barcodes to capture their spatial locations, and transforms the data into images.
In 2022, De Vlaminck presented his myocarditis research at an immunology seminar, sparking Ren's interest. She wondered whether the method could be applied to her field to unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate ovulation.
Ovulation requires precise coordination between female germ cells, or oocytes, and the rupture of follicles, which provide the environment for oocyte growth and maturation. In mice, follicular rupture occurs every four to five days; in women, it occurs about every four weeks. Once an oocyte leaves the ovary, it quickly loses viability, making the timing of release critical.
By tracking different cell types in mouse ovaries at high spatiotemporal resolution, the team discovered an additional selection process that follicles undergo during the hour before ovulation. This process had not previously been identified, and when disrupted it may reduce the ovulation rate and affect fertility.
In addition to revealing the follicle selection process, the study identified differentiation pathways followed by ovarian cells during the early and late stages of ovulation. These findings provide foundational insights for structural biology and point toward new infertility treatments.
De Vlaminck and Ren next plan to investigate fertility and ovulation issues associated with obesity and reproductive aging. Their research may offer hope to the more than 10% of patients whose infertility is caused by ovulatory failure, particularly in the context of obesity and increasing maternal age.
The study was funded by the Cornell Center for Vertebrate Genomics and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
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