卵母细胞减数分裂阻滞与促黄体素诱导减数分裂恢复的分子机制研究进展

哺乳动物排卵前,卵泡中的卵母细胞一直被阻滞在减数分裂I前期的双线期,卵泡壁层颗粒细胞分泌的C型利尿钠肽(C-type natriuretic peptide, NPPC)与表达在卵丘细胞中的同源利尿钠肽受体2 (natriuretic peptide receptor 2, NPR2)结合,产生的cGMP是维持减数分裂阻滞的关键因子。另外,cAMP、缝隙连接、肌苷单磷酸脱氢酶(inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase,IMPDH)等多种重要调控因子也参与了减数分裂阻滞。当垂体分泌的促黄体素(luteinizing hormone, LH)峰到来时,LH通过多种调控方式迅速降低胞内cGMP水平,使卵母细胞恢复减数分裂。本文对维持卵母细胞减数分裂I阻滞以及LH诱导减数分裂恢复的机制研究进展进行综述,为相关生殖疾病的预防和诊治提供思路。     

颗粒细胞EGF类因子信号通路在调控卵母细胞成熟和发育中的作用

动物体内卵泡排卵前促黄体素(luteinizing hormone, LH)诱导了卵丘颗粒细胞扩散,并启动卵母细胞恢复减数分裂。普遍认为,卵泡壁层颗粒细胞表达LH受体,卵母细胞及其周围卵丘细胞不表达LH受体,LH通过作用于卵泡壁层颗粒细胞产生信号分子,这些信号分子作用于卵丘颗粒细胞介导了LH生物作用。然而,一直以来,关于排卵前介导LH作用而诱导卵母细胞成熟的机制一直存在争议。目前研究认为,LH作用于卵泡壁层颗粒细胞后产生了EGF类因子,并与颗粒细胞的受体结合,促进了卵母细胞的成熟和发育。由于体外成熟的卵丘卵母细胞复合体来源于生长卵泡,其卵丘颗粒细胞EGF类因子信号系统不完善,目前的体外成熟培养体系难以模拟卵泡内的生理环境,导致卵母细胞体外发育能力较差,限制了这些卵母细胞的利用效率。本文综述了颗粒细胞EGF类因子信号系统、EGF类因子在调控卵母细胞成熟中的作用及对卵母细胞发育能力的影响,为优化卵母细胞体外成熟培养体系,完善卵丘颗粒细胞的EGF类因子的信号系统,进而提高卵母细胞体外成熟效率提供理论依据。     

卵母细胞第一次减数分裂的阻滞和恢复

哺乳动物卵母细胞第一次减数分裂阻滞期间,来自卵母细胞的Gs-GPR-ADCY诱导环磷酸腺苷(cyclic adenosine monophosphate, cAMP)的生成,升高卵母细胞内cAMP的水平。颗粒细胞中的C型利钠肽(natriuretic peptides C, NPPC)和肌苷-5'-磷酸脱氢酶(inosine-5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase, IMPDH)调节卵丘颗粒细胞中环磷酸鸟苷(cyclic guanosinc monophosphate, cGMP)的生成,cGMP进入卵母细胞抑制cAMP-磷酸二酯酶(cAMP-phosphodiesterase, cAMP-PDE)活性,升高cAMP浓度,并使细胞质成熟促进因子(maturation promoting factor, MPF)处于非活化态,最终诱导了减数分裂阻滞在双线期。促黄体素(luteinizing hormone, LH)峰的出现一方面降低了壁颗粒细胞中NPPC的水平,另一方面激活了卵丘颗粒细胞丝裂原活化蛋白激酶3/1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase3/1, MAPK3/1),两者均降低了卵母细胞中cGMP的浓度,促进cAMP水解,使得MPF处于活化态,最终诱导了减数分裂恢复。该综述将探讨这两种环核苷酸如何通过阻断或启动减数分裂过程来调节卵母细胞成熟,并对未来的研究提供一定的见解。     

卵丘在卵母细胞成熟中的作用

卵丘是指在卵母细胞外周并与之进行代谢联系的颗粒细胞群;卵丘对于卵母细胞成熟有极其重要的作用。主要表现在卵丘参与维持卵母细胞减数分裂阻滞,诱导卵母细胞减数分裂恢复、支持卵母细胞细胞质的成熟。卵丘形态和卵丘扩展影响卵母细胞成熟。了解卵丘在卵母细胞成熟中的作用有助于帮助人们进一步揭示哺乳动物卵母细胞成熟的机制。     

cAMP/PKA诱导卵母细胞减数分裂停滞的机制

大多数物种的卵母细胞在减数分裂前都要经历长时间停滞,其中cAMP对卵母细胞减数分裂停滞具有重要作用,本研究关注c AMP对卵母细胞减数分裂的影响及其机制。本研究通过将卵母细胞与cAMP预孵育,再用胰岛素刺激研究胰岛素诱导的卵母细胞成熟的影响,接着本研究通过显微注射和Zeiss 100TV显微镜分析cAMP对PKA在卵母细胞中定位的影响,并且本研究用Western blotting的方法研究cAMP/PKA对mos蛋白的表达和MAPK蛋白磷酸化的影响。结果显示,本研究通过亲和层析得到了高纯度的PKA蛋白,且cAMP/PKA能够抑制卵母细胞的成熟,而PKA的热稳定抑制剂PKI能够解除PKA对卵母细胞减数分裂的抑制,cAMP/PKA也能够影响mos的积累以及MAPK的磷酸化。cAMP能够影响PKA在卵母细胞中的定位,cAMP/PKA能够通过影响mos积累抑制卵母细胞的减数分裂,这可能与cAMP能够抑制MAPK磷酸化有关。     

蛋白激酶在卵母细胞减数分裂和受精中的作用

脊椎动物卵母细胞的减数分裂和受精过程受到多种蛋白激酶的调节。近年来对于卵母细胞成熟、活化和受精的分子机制研究取得了长足进步 ,发现促成熟因子 (MPF)和促分裂原活化蛋白激酶 (MAPK)是调节卵母细胞细胞周期的关键分子 ,二者的激活和失活导致了减数分裂的恢复、阻滞和完成。许多蛋白激酶通过调节MPF和MAPK活性来影响减数分裂。Polo like激酶活化MPF ,Mos激活MAPK而启动成熟分裂并维持中期阻滞。CaMKII通过泛素途径灭活MPF使卵突破MII期阻滞。另外 ,p90 rsk作为MAPK的下游分子参与减数分裂调节 ,蛋白激酶C(PKC)诱导皮质颗粒排放并抑制MAPK激活 ,酪氨酸蛋白激酶家族成员介导受精诱发的Ca2 释放。这些蛋白激酶的协同作用推动了卵母细胞正常的成熟与受精     

FSH诱导卵丘细胞分泌一种促减数分裂物质

本实验利用卵母细胞的体外培养模型,将小鼠卵丘－卵母细胞复合体（CEO）和去卵丘卵母细胞（DO）在体外培养,系统研究了促性腺激素（FSH、hCG）诱导小鼠卵母细胞减数分裂的机制。结果显示,FSH能剂量依赖性地诱导CEO恢复减数分裂（Fig.1),但对DO无影响;hCG对CEO、DO皆无效果（Fig.2);用FSH预处理CEO时间达到1小时后,就能显著诱导卵母细胞成熟,2小时后作用达到最大,不再增强（Fig.3);用FSH处理CEO2小时及24小时的培养液,能诱导DO恢复减数分裂,但预处理卵丘细胞24小时的培养液,并不能诱导DO恢复减数分裂（Fig.4A);这种培养液在70℃下30分钟后,仍能刺激DO成熟（Fig.4B);甾醇类物质合成抑制剂酮康唑,可剂量依赖性地抑制FSH的促减数分裂恢复作用（Fig.5)。这些结果说明,FSH可能诱导卵丘－卵母细胞复合体中的卵丘细胞分泌一种促减数分裂恢复物质;该物质用于卵母细胞,诱导其恢复减数分裂而成熟;这种物质可能是一种甾醇类物质。     

绵羊卵泡成分对卵母细胞体外减数分裂调控的研究

哺乳动物卵巢中的卵母细胞一直处于减数分裂的停滞状态,卵泡内各成分被认为是产生抑制因子的主要来源。本研究以绵羊卵泡各成分为研究对象,用共培养的方法对卵丘细胞、颗粒细胞、膜细胞在卵母细胞体外减数分裂过程中的作用加以探讨。结果表明：1．卵泡整体及卵泡分泌物在体外可以有效地维持减数分裂停滞,经过24h培养,这两个处理组中,处于GV期的卵母细胞分别为69．6％和49．1％。经抑制处理后的卵母细胞脱离抑制环境后可以继发成熟,MⅡ比率可达88．9％。去掉卵丘细胞的裸卵其减数分裂过程不能被卵泡分泌物有效抑制,24h培养后其GV期比例为17．8％。以上结果说明卵泡中的抑制因子主要是通过卵丘细胞束发挥其调控作用的。2．用颗粒细胞与卵母细胞共培养,结果发现具有颗粒细胞卵丘细胞缝隙连接的卵母细胞(COCGs)在培养24小时后47．4％达到MⅡ,与在不具有细胞连接的总浮颗粒细胞中共培养的卵母细胞之间存在无显差异,无论是紧密连接的颗粒细胞层还是悬浮在培养液中的颗粒细胞都不能有效抑制生发泡破裂(GVBD)的发生,只能将卵母细胞抑制在MⅡ以前的各个时期。以上结果说明颗粒细胞在体外分泌抑制图子的活力大大下降。3．卵泡膜细胞具有分泌抑制成熟分裂因子的能力,与膜细胞层共培养的卵母细胞在8h和24h时,其GV期的比例为34．4％和32．7％,显高于没有膜细胞层的对照组(4．5％和1.1％)。综上所述,绵羊卵泡中的抑制因子不仅来自于颗粒细胞,而且膜细胞也参与了成熟分裂的抑制,这些细胞在体外仍具有分泌抑制因子的能力,只是与体内分泌能力有所不同。     

核糖体S6蛋白激酶p90rsk与卵母细胞减数分裂

丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)信号途径对减数分裂有重要调节作用,p90rsk是迄今研究最清楚的MAPK下游靶分子,介导MAPK途径在卵母细胞减数分裂中的多种功能,包括卵母细胞减数分裂的启动、MⅠ/MⅡ期转化和MⅡ期阻滞的维持等.p90rsk的磷酸化是MAPK激活的结果,而细胞退出减数分裂时,p90rsk的去磷酸化也发生在MAPK失活以后.介绍了在卵母细胞中p90rsk的研究进展.     

泛素-蛋白水解酶复合体通路在卵母细胞减数分裂和受精中的作用

泛素—蛋白水解酶复合体通路(Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway,UPP)高效快速并高度选择性地降解特定的蛋白质,从而参与控制多种重要的细胞生物学过程。在卵母细胞减数分裂和受精过程中,该通路通过降解细胞周期中的关键因子,如细胞周期蛋白、细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制图子等细胞周期调控因子,从而参与卵母细胞生发泡破裂、第一极体排放、MII阻滞的维持和克服等过程,使细胞通过特定的检验点。此外,UPP也与丝裂原活化蛋白激酶通路、Polo样激酶、成熟促进因子、蛋白激酶C、钙调蛋白依赖激酶Ⅱ等减数分裂关键调节因子相互作用来参与卵母细胞减数分裂成熟和受精。一些周期蛋白(如后期促进复合体的某些亚单位等)还充当泛素连接酶成分,直接参与泛素化过程。     

Towards a new understanding on the regulation of mammalian oocyte meiosis resumption

Mammalian oocytes reach prophase of first meiosis around the time of birth, and remain at this stage for months or years, depending on the species. Only after puberty will the fully-grown oocytes begin to resume meiosis which is stimulated by gonadotropin surge. It has long been known that a high level of intra-oocyte cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) prevents oocyte meiosis resumption as indicated by germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD). Recently, guanosine triphosphate-binding (G) protein-coupled receptors/G proteins/adenyl cyclase pathway endogenous to the oocyte as well as cAMP diffusion from the somatic compartment through gap junctions have been implicated in maintaining cAMP at levels that prevent oocytes from resuming meiosis. Another second messager molecule, guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), has also recently been found to play important roles in maintaining oocyte meiosis arrest. cGMP in the follicular somatic cells diffuses into the oocyte and causes an increase in oocyte cAMP, presumably by acting on phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3). The cGMP level in the somatic compartment of the follicle decreases in response to luteinizing hormone (LH), and this change may be mediated through the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like factors and specific cGMP-phosphodiesterase subtype activity. It is well known that gonadotropic stimulation of meiotic resumption depends on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in the somatic compartment of the follicle; recent studies show that LH, through cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC) pathways, induces the synthesis of paracine factors such as EGF-like facors and meiosis activating sterol (MAS) to regulate oocyte GVBD via the MAPK pathway in follicle cells. A recent granulosa cell-specific knockout study has for the first time provided in vivo evidence for the important role of extracellular regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), two main forms of MAPK, and their downstream molecules in granulosa cells in oocyte meiosis resumption. Unresolved questions and future directions on research regarding signaling changes in follicle cells and oocytes as well their communication in response to the gonadotropin surge are addressed in this review.     

Oocyte-dependent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2) in cumulus cells is required for the maturation of the mouse oocyte-cumulus cell complex

Luteinizing hormone (LH) induces maturational processes in oocyte-cumulus cell complexes (OCC) of preovulatory follicles that include both resumption of meiosis in the oocyte and expansion (mucification) of the cumulus oophorus. Both processes require activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in granulosa cells. Here, it is reported that inhibition of MAPK activation prevented gonadotropin-stimulated resumption of meiosis as well as the rise in expression of two genes whose products are necessary for normal cumulus expansion, Has2 and Ptgs2. However, inhibition of MAPK did not block gonadotropin-induced elevation of granulosa cell cAMP, indicating that the activation of MAPK required for inducing GVB and cumulus expansion is downstream of cAMP. Moreover, activation of MAPK in cumulus cells requires one or more paracrine factors from the oocyte to induce GVB and cumulus expansion; MAPK activation alone is not sufficient to initiate these maturational processes. This study demonstrates a remarkable interaction between the oocyte and cumulus cells that is essential for gonadotropin-induced maturational processes in OCC. By enabling gonadotropin-dependent MAPK activation in granulosa cells, oocytes promote the generation of a return signal from these cells that induces the resumption of meiosis. It also appears that an oocyte-dependent pathway downstream from oocyte-enabled activation of MAPK, and distinct from that promoting the resumption of meiosis, governs cumulus expansion.     

Oocyte-specific expression of Gpr3 is required for the maintenance of meiotic arrest in mouse oocytes

The maintenance of meiotic prophase arrest in mouse oocytes within fully grown follicles, prior to the surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) that triggers meiotic resumption, depends on a high level of cAMP within the oocyte. cAMP is produced within the oocyte, at least in large part, by the G(s)-linked G-protein-coupled receptor, GPR3. Gpr3 is localized in the mouse oocyte but is also present throughout the follicle. To investigate whether Gpr3 in the follicle cells contributes to the maintenance of meiotic arrest, RNA interference (RNAi) was used to reduce the amount of Gpr3 RNA within follicle-enclosed oocytes. Follicle-enclosed oocytes injected with small interfering double-stranded RNA (siRNA) targeting Gpr3, but not control siRNAs, stimulated the resumption of meiosis in the majority of oocytes following a 3-day culture period. Reduction of RNA was specific for Gpr3 because an unrelated gene was not reduced by microinjection of siRNA. Meiotic resumption was stimulated in isolated oocytes injected with the same siRNA and cultured for 1 to 2 days, but at a much lower rate than in follicle-enclosed oocytes that could be cultured for longer. These results demonstrate that GPR3 specifically in the oocyte, rather than in the follicle cells, is responsible for maintenance of meiotic arrest in mouse oocytes. Furthermore, the method developed here for specifically reducing RNA in follicle-enclosed oocytes, which can be cultured for a sufficient time to reduce the level of endogenous protein, should be generally useful for targeting a wide range of other proteins that may be involved in meiotic arrest, the resumption of meiosis, fertilization, or early embryonic development.     

Cumulus cells secrete a meiosi-inducing substance by stimulation with forskolin and dibutyric cyclic adenosine monophosphate

The role of the cumulus cells in initiating the resumption of meiosis after exposure to forskolin and dbcAMP was studied in the mouse. The resumption of meiosis was monitored by the percentage of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and polar body formation (PB). The cumulus-enclosed oocytes (CEO) and denuded oocytes (DO) were cultured with and without hypoxanthine (HX) in the culture medium. Three types of experiments were performed: (1) Effect of forskolin on spontaneous resumption of meiosis, i.e. cultures without HX, and two experiments in which HX is present throughout the culture: (2) Effect of transient exposure to forskolin or dibutyric-cyclic adenosinemonophosphate (dbcAMP) on GVBD prior to continued culture without forskolin or dbcAMP (oocyte priming). (3) Priming of CEO with forskolin for 2 hr, separation of cumulus cells and oocytes, followed by coculture of rejoined cumulus cells and oocytes, or coculture of the cumulus cells and new, unprimed DO. (1) Forskolin inhibited a spontaneous resumption of meiosis in a dose-dependent manner during the first 5 hr of culturing. After 22 hr all controls and CEO resumed meiosis, whereas only half of the DO did. (2) At least 1 hr of priming the CEO with forskolin is needed to induce GVBD and PB formation, but forskolin inhibited the resumption of meiosis when present for 24 hr. Similar results were obtained with a high concentration of dbcAMP. (3) A separation and rejoining of oocytes and cumulus cells after priming induced the resumption of meiosis in a significantly greater number of oocytes than in the control oocytes which were not primed. The GVBD of unstimulated DO also increased significantly when cocultured with cumulus cells from primed CEO. The percentage of GVBD in unprimed DO and in DO isolated from primed CEO was the same. We suggest that within 1–2 hr, forskolin and cAMP stimulate cumulus cells to produce a diffusible meiosis-inducing substance which overcomes HX-inhibition and induces oocyte maturation, including both GVBD and PB formation. The CEO must be primed for more than 2 hr before the resumption of meiosis in DO isolated from such CEO is induced. Oocyte-cumulus connections are crucial as far as initiating the production of a meiosis-inducing substance is concerned. Oocyte-cumulus connections are not needed for transferring this substance to the oocyte. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Meiotic resumption in response to luteinizing hormone is independent of a Gi family G protein or calcium in the mouse oocyte

The signaling pathway by which luteinizing hormone (LH) acts on the somatic cells of vertebrate ovarian follicles to stimulate meiotic resumption in the oocyte requires a decrease in cAMP in the oocyte, but how cAMP is decreased is unknown. Activation of Gi family G proteins can lower cAMP by inhibiting adenylate cyclase or stimulating a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, but we show here that inhibition of this class of G proteins by injection of pertussis toxin into follicle-enclosed mouse oocytes does not prevent meiotic resumption in response to LH. Likewise, elevation of Ca2+ can lower cAMP through its action on Ca2+-sensitive adenylate cyclases or phosphodiesterases, but inhibition of a Ca2+ rise by injection of EGTA into follicle-enclosed mouse oocytes does not inhibit the LH response. Thus, neither of these well-known mechanisms of cAMP regulation can account for LH signaling to the oocyte in the mouse ovary.     

Synthesis and accumulation of p34cdc2 and cyclin B in mouse oocytes during acquisition of competence to resume meiosis

This study tests the hypothesis 033 that growing murine oocytes, which are incompetent to resume meiosis, are deficient in their content of p34^cdc2 and/or cyclin B, the two subunits of maturation promoting factor (MPF). Accumulation of the two MPF components occurred in an asynchronous manner in growing oocytes. Cyclin B content reached maximal levels in oocytes that were not yet competent to undergo germinal vesicle breakdown (GVB), the first obvious morphological manifestation of the resumption of meiosis. Thus, the amount of cyclin B is not the limiting factor rendering these growing oocytes incompetent to undergo GVB. In contrast, synthesis and accumulation of p34^cdc2 increased during the period of oocyte growth in vivo when they became competent to undergo GVB. A similar increase in the amount of p34^cdc2 also occurred in cultured granulosa cell-free oocytes despite the lack of oocyte growth, but these cultured oocytes did not become GVB competent. Thus, the accumulation of p34^cdc2 is probably necessary, but not sufficient, for mouse oocytes to become competent to undergo GVB. This accumulation occurs autonomously in oocytes independently of growth or of the participation of follicular somatic cells. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

CNP/NPR2 signaling maintains oocyte meiotic arrest in early antral follicles and is suppressed by EGFR‐mediated signaling in preovulatory follicles

Oocyte meiosis is arrested at prophase I by factors secreted from surrounding somatic cells after oocytes acquire meiotic competence at an early antral stage, and meiosis resumes in preovulatory follicles as a result of the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. Recently, signaling by C‐type natriuretic peptide (CNP) through its receptor, natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2), was found to be essential for meiotic arrest at the late antral stage. Whether or not CNP/NPR2 signaling maintains oocyte meiotic arrest in earlier follicular stages and how it is associated with meiotic resumption induced by the LH surge is unclear. In this study, we examined the expression of Nppc and Npr2, respectively encoding CNP and NPR2, in the ovaries of immature mice. Nppc and Npr2 mRNA were specifically expressed in the outer and inner granulosa cell layers, respectively, in early antral follicles. Histological analysis of mice with a mutation in Npr2 revealed precocious resumption of oocyte meiosis in early antral follicles. Ovaries of mice treated with excess human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) exhibited markedly decreased Nppc mRNA levels in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles. Moreover, we found that amphiregulin, a mediator of LH/hCG activity through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), suppressed Nppc mRNA levels in cultured granulosa cells. These results suggest that CNP/NPR2 signaling is essential for oocyte meiotic arrest in early antral follicles and that activated LH/amphiregulin/EGFR signaling pathway suppresses this signal by downregulating Nppc expression. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79: 795–802, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Meiotic state of bovine oocytes is regulated by interactions between cAMP,cumulus, and granulosa

Bovine oocytes are arrested at the prophase of first meiotic cell cycle. Meiosis resumes in oocytes of pre-ovulatory follicles upon LH surge. However, oocytes from secondary follicles spontaneously resume meiosis in the absence of hormones if removed from the follicle and cultured in vitro. The nature of meiotic arrestor in bovine follicles is poorly understood. In this study we investigated the role of cell-cell interactions between granulosa and cumulus cells and the oocyte in mediating maintenance of meiotic arrest by cAMP. We sorted oocytes as granulosa-cumulus oocyte complexes (GCOC) if surrounded with cumulus cells attached to a large granulosa investment or cumulus oocytes complexes (COC) if surrounded with cumulus cells only and investigated the role cAMP in maintenance of meiotic arrest in these oocytes under various conditions. In hormone- and serum-free medium both GCOC and COC enclosed oocytes resumed meiosis. When [cAMP](i) was elevated with addition of invasive adenylate cyclase (iAC) GCOC enclosed oocytes were maintained in the prophase with intact germinal vesicle (GV) while COC enclosed oocytes underwent GV breakdown (GVBD). iAC elevated [cAMP](i) in both types of oocytes to the same level. If oocytes were liberated from the cumulus and granulosa cells, they re-initiated meiosis in serum and hormone free medium, but remained in the GV stage if iAC was added to the medium. Untreated GCOC and COC enclosed oocytes extruded first polar body at the same frequency in hormone-supplemented media. GCOC and COC enclosed oocytes but not denuded oocytes (DO) cultured without somatic cells acquired developmental competence if cultured in hormone-containing medium. It is concluded that maintenance of meiotic arrest is regulated by the interplay of [cAMP](i), and cumulus and granulosa cells.     

Synergistic roles of BMP15 and GDF9 in the development and function of the oocyte-cumulus cell complex in mice: genetic evidence for an oocyte-granulosa cell regulatory loop

Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) are oocyte-specific growth factors that appear to play key roles in granulosa cell development and fertility in most mammalian species. We have evaluated the role(s) of these paracrine factors in the development and function of both the cumulus cells and oocytes by assessing cumulus expansion, oocyte maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation embryogenesis in Gdf9+/-Bmp15-/- [hereafter, double mutant (DM)] mice. We found that cumulus expansion, as well as the expression of hyaluronon synthase 2 (Has2) mRNA was impaired in DM oocyte-cumulus cell complexes. This aberrant cumulus expansion was not remedied by coculture with normal wild-type (WT) oocytes, indicating that the development and/or differentiation of cumulus cells in the DM, up to the stage of the preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, is impaired. In addition, DM oocytes failed to enable FSH to induce cumulus expansion in WT oocytectomized (OOX) cumulus. Moreover, LH-induced oocyte meiotic resumption was significantly delayed in vivo, and this delayed resumption of meiosis was correlated with the reduced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the cumulus cells, thus suggesting that GDF9 and BMP15 also regulate the function of cumulus cells after the preovulatory LH surge. Although spontaneous in vitro oocyte maturation occurred normally, oocyte fertilization and preimplantation embryogenesis were significantly altered in the DM, suggesting that the full complement of both GDF9 and BMP15 are essential for the development and function of oocytes. Because receptors for GDF9 and BMP15 have not yet been identified in mouse oocytes, the effects of the mutations in the Bmp15 and Gdf9 genes on oocyte development and functions must be produced indirectly by first affecting the granulosa cells and then the oocyte. Therefore, this study provides further evidence for the existence and functioning of an oocyte-granulosa cell regulatory loop.