# ANALYSIS OF MAMMALIAN OOGENESIS AND FOLLICULOGENESIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · 1994 · $332,605

## Abstract

Folliculogenesis is a precise series of developments that require the
cooperative efforts of several cell types comprising the Graafian
follicle and the integration and modulation of a complex set of hormonal
and non-hormonal messages (including those that act by way of autocrine
and paracrine mechanisms) that ultimately insure maturation and survival
of the oocyte and finally bring about its ovulation.  Basic to any
attempt to elucidate the integrated function of the developing Graafian
follicle is the need to understand the unique structural and
physiological features of each component.  A defect in one cell type or
one component may have marked repercussions on another constituent of the
follicle.  This may contribute to infertility, which affects about 10-15%
of all couples in the United States.  The objective of this proposal is
to learn some of the basic, fundamental aspects of the dynamic morphology
and function of the oocyte, the multifunctional granulosa cell and theca,
as each is related to follicular development under normal and
experimental conditions, i.e., the production of ovarian cysts
(cystogenesis) by treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF THIS PROPOSAL ARE: (A) TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT(S) OF
DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE (DHEA) TREATMENT ON ONGOING FOLLICULOGENESIS AND
SERUM HORMONES BEFORE AND AT THE ONSET OF CYSTOGENESIS; (B) TO DETERMINE
THE PARTICIPATION OF GROWTH FACTORS DURING FOLLICULOGENESIS IN NORMAL
OVARIES AND FROM OVARIES OF ANIMALS TREATED WITH DHEA AT THE ONSET AND
DURING CYSTOGENESIS; (C) TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ANDROGEN(S)
(DHEA AND ITS METABOLITES), GONADOTROPINS, OR COMBINATIONS THEREOF ON
GRANULOSA CELLS DURING FOLLICULOGENESIS AND CYSTOGENESIS; (D) TO
DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF THE OOCYTE ON FOLLICULOGENESIS AND CYSTOGENESIS;
AND (E) TO DETERMINE THE FUNCTION OF THE CYTOSKELETON DURING
FOLLICULOGENESIS AND CYSTOGENESIS.

THE PROPOSED EXPERIMENTS WILL USE IN VIVO AND IN VITRO TECHNIQUES, PHASE
CONTRAST MICROSCOPY, LASER SCANNING CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY, ELECTRON
MICROSCOPY, IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY, REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION-POLYMERASE CHAIN
REACTION, IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION, AND PROTEIN BIOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES.  The
expected fundamental data will be integrated with that obtained about the
reproductive process in general through other biological disciplines.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2197111
- **Project number:** 5R01HD014574-15
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **SAM.gov UEI:** JDLVAVGYJQ21
- **Principal Investigator:** EVERETT ANDERSON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $332,605
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-07-01 → 1997-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2197111

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2197111, ANALYSIS OF MAMMALIAN OOGENESIS AND FOLLICULOGENESIS (5R01HD014574-15). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2197111. Licensed CC0.

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