High impact information on GDF9

• Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) had no significant effect on cumulus cell apoptosis [1].
• BMP15 alone, GDF9 alone or the two combined all (P<0.05) increased the proportion of oocytes that reached the blastocyst stage post-insemination from 41% (controls) to 58%, 50% and 55%, respectively [2].
• GDF-9 mRNAs have been shown to be expressed in the human ovarian follicle from the primary follicle stage onward, and recombinant GDF-9 has been shown to promote human ovarian follicle growth in vitro [3].
• However, unlike BMP-2, GDF-9 did not activate the phosphorylation of antiphospho-Smad1 antibody (alphaPS1)-immunoreactive proteins in hGL cells [3].
• In FSH plus IGF-I-treated granulosa cells obtained from large follicles, GDF-9 caused a dose-dependent decrease (P<0.05) in IGF-I-induced progesterone (by 13-48%) and estradiol (by 20-51%) production [4].

Biological context of GDF9

• Depending on the GDF9 and/or BMP15 vaccine formulation, ovulation rate was either increased or suppressed [5].
• Currently, five different point mutations have been identified in the BMP15 (GDF9b) gene and one in GDF9 [5].
• We evaluated the effects of GDF-9 (150-600 ng/ml) and BMP-4 (30 ng/ml) during a 2-day exposure on hormone-induced steroidogenesis and cell proliferation [4].
• In the same cells treated with FSH but not IGF-I, co-treatment with 600 ng/ml GDF-9 decreased (P<0.05) progesterone production (by 28%), increased (P<0.05) cell numbers (by 60%), and had no effect (P>0.10) on estradiol production [4].
• Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are crucial factors in follicular growth and development [6].

Anatomical context of GDF9

• Murine GDF9 also inhibited inhibin production from bovine granulosa cells [7].
• Several well-known oocyte-specific genes were represented, including growth differentiation factor 9, bone morphogenetic protein 15, or the zona pellucida glycoprotein genes [8].

Associations of GDF9 with chemical compounds

• As was observed for progesterone, the species of origin of GDF9 affected inhibin production by ovine granulosa cells where mGDF9 inhibited while oGDF9 stimulated production [7].
• In comparison, 300 and 600 ng/ml GDF-9 decreased (P<0.05) estradiol production by 27% and 71% respectively, whereas 150 ng/ml GDF-9 was without effect (P>0.10) [4].

Other interactions of GDF9

• In contrast, GDF-9 increased basal and IGF-I-induced granulosa cell numbers by over 2-fold [4].
• GDF-9 and BMPs initiate signaling by assembling type I (ALK-3, ALK-5 and ALK-6) and type II (BMPRII) receptors [6].

References