德国马克斯·普朗克多学科科学研究所Melina Schuh团队近期取得重要工作进展，他们通过体外成像研究揭示了排卵的时空调控。相关研究成果2024年10月16日发表于《自然—细胞生物学》杂志上。

据介绍，在排卵期间，卵子从卵泡中释放出来，准备受精。排卵发生在体内，阻碍了对其进展的直接研究。因此，控制排卵的确切机制尚不清楚。

研究人员设计了实时成像方法来研究分离的小鼠卵泡排卵的整个过程。研究人员发现排卵经历了三个不同的阶段，卵泡扩张（I）、收缩（II）和破裂（III），最终导致卵子的释放。

卵泡扩张是由透明质酸分泌和渗透梯度引导的液体流入卵泡所驱动的。然后，外卵泡中的平滑肌细胞驱动卵泡收缩。卵泡破裂始于柱头形成，随后卵泡液和卵丘细胞排出，卵子迅速释放。这些结果为排卵建立了一个机制框架，这是一个对生殖至关重要的过程。

附：英文原文

Title: Ex vivo imaging reveals the spatiotemporal control of ovulation

Author: Thomas, Christopher, Marx, Tabea Lilian, Penir, Sarah Mae, Schuh, Melina

Issue&Volume: 2024-10-16

Abstract: During ovulation, an egg is released from an ovarian follicle, ready for fertilization. Ovulation occurs inside the body, impeding direct studies of its progression. Therefore, the exact mechanisms that control ovulation have remained unclear. Here we devised live imaging methods to study the entire process of ovulation in isolated mouse ovarian follicles. We show that ovulation proceeds through three distinct phases, follicle expansion (I), contraction (II) and rupture (III), culminating in the release of the egg. Follicle expansion is driven by hyaluronic acid secretion and an osmotic gradient-directed fluid influx into the follicle. Then, smooth muscle cells in the outer follicle drive follicle contraction. Follicle rupture begins with stigma formation, followed by the exit of follicular fluid and cumulus cells and the rapid release of the egg. These results establish a mechanistic framework for ovulation, a process of fundamental importance for reproduction.

DOI: 10.1038/s41556-024-01524-6

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41556-024-01524-6