The mammalian oocyte is surrounded by several layers of cumulus granulosa cells that
nurture the oocyte during its development and actively participate in the process of …

It has now been a decade since the first discovery of the intracellular Smad proteins, the
downstream signalling molecules of one of the most important growth factor families in the …

The capacity of fully grown oocytes to regulate their own microenvironment by paracrine
factors secreted by the oocyte (oocyte-secreted factors, OSFs) may in turn contribute to …

Oocytes regulate follicle growth by secreting paracrine growth factors that act on
neighbouring granulosa cells (GCs). Those factors identified to date are mainly members of …

Mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15) gene cause female infertility in
the monoovulatory human and sheep; however, in the polyovulatory mouse, loss-of-function …

SMAD4 is a central component of the TGFβ superfamily signaling pathway. Within the ovary,
TGFβ-related proteins play crucial roles in controlling granulosa cell growth, differentiation …

The transition of preantral to antral follicles is one of the major steps in follicular
development, yet little is known about the molecular and functional changes that occur as …

Recent advances in genomic sequencing allow a new paradigm in hormonal research, and
a comparative genomic approach facilitates the identification of receptors and signalling …

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 15 and growth differentiation factor (GDF) 9 are oocyte-
secreted growth factors that are critical local regulators of ovarian function and may be …

Ao realizar um estudo comparatista das obras" Mazanga", de Alberto Oliveira Pinto, e" O
último vôo do flamingo", de Mia Couto, esta tese objetiva abordar o tema da viagem …