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Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Receptor Type 2 Is an Important Mediator of TNF alpha Function in the Mouse Ovary¹

Department of Physiology,³ University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology,⁴ University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas 66160 Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine,⁵ University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Department of Biology,⁶ Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244 Department of Veterinary Biosciences,⁷ University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61802

ABSTRACT

It is believed that a finite pool of primordial follicles is established during embryonic and neonatal life. At birth, the mouse ovary consists of clusters of interconnected oocytes surrounded by pregranulosa cells. Shortly after birth these structures, termed germ cell cysts or nests (GCN), break down to facilitate primordial follicle formation. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) is a widely expressed protein with myriad functions. TNF is expressed in the ovary and may regulate GCN breakdown in rats. We investigated whether it participates in GCN breakdown and follicle formation in mice by using an in vitro ovary culture system as well as mutant animal models. We found that TNF and both receptors (TNFRSF1A and TNFRSF1B) are expressed in neonatal mouse ovaries and that TNF promotes oocyte death in neonatal ovaries in vitro. However, deletion of either receptor did not affect follicle endowment, suggesting that TNF does not regulate GCN breakdown in vivo. Tnfrsf1b deletion led to an apparent acceleration of follicular growth and a concomitant expansion of the primordial follicle population. This expansion of the primordial follicle population does not appear to be due to decreased primordial follicle atresia, although this cannot be ruled out completely. This study demonstrates that mouse oocytes express both TNF receptors and are sensitive to TNF-induced death. Additionally, TNFRSF1B is demonstrated to be an important mediator of TNF function in the mouse ovary and an important regulator of folliculogenesis.

apoptosis, follicle, follicular development, ovary

¹Supported by National Institutes of Health HD38955, T32HD07170, and CA50616, and a grant from the Women's Health Research Group at the University of Maryland.

Correspondence: ²FAX: 217 244 1652; e-mail: jflaws{at}uiuc.edu