Role of OCT4 in the Regulation of FSH-Induced Granulosa Cell Growth in Female Mice
January 2020
in “
Frontiers in Endocrinology
”
TLDR OCT4 helps granulosa cell growth in early-stage follicles, and FSH increases OCT4 through specific pathways.
In 2020, a study was conducted to investigate the role of OCT4, a transcription factor, in the growth of granulosa cells in female mice, which are crucial for follicle development. The researchers found that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) increased OCT4 expression, promoting granulosa cell development. This process was mediated by the PI3K/Akt pathway and involved the GSK3β/β-catenin pathway. Inhibition of GSK3β activity significantly increased the expression of β-catenin and OCT4 in granulosa cells. Knockdown of β-catenin or OCT4 led to decreased cell growth. The study concluded that OCT4 is a positive regulator for the granulosa cell development in the early stage of follicles, and that FSH induces the expression of OCT4 in granulosa cells through the GSK3β/β-catenin pathway, promoting cellular development.
