Growth Factor Signaling in Ovarian Granulosa Cells
Summary
Growth factor signaling within ovarian granulosa cells orchestrates the progression of follicles from quiescence through maturation, ovulation and luteinisation. A diverse array of ligands—including epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1)—engage specific receptor tyrosine kinases on the granulosa cell surface. Ligand binding triggers intracellular cascades such as the MAPK, PI3K–AKT and PLCγ pathways that cooperate with cyclic AMP–PKA signals downstream of follicle-stimulating hormone. Through paracrine and autocrine loops, growth factors regulate granulosa cell proliferation, survival, steroidogenesis and expression of key genes involved in oocyte support. Cross-talk between growth factor and gonadotrophin receptors fine-tunes the balance between proliferation and differentiation, ensuring coordinated folliculogenesis. Dysregulation of these pathways contributes to impaired fertility, ovarian pathologies such as polycystic ovary syndrome and poor response in assisted reproductive techniques. Recent advances have illuminated the spatiotemporal dynamics of receptor activation, the role of local binding proteins in modulating ligand availability and the integration of metabolic cues with growth factor networks.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Growth Factor Signaling in Ovarian Granulosa Cells publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in growth factor signaling in ovarian granulosa cells across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Granulosa cell: Somatic cell lining ovarian follicles that supports oocyte development and produces steroid hormones.
Growth factor: Extracellular signalling molecule that binds receptors to regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and survival.
Paracrine signalling: Communication in which cells release factors that act on neighbouring cells within the same tissue.
Autocrine signalling: Mode of self-stimulation in which cells secrete factors that bind receptors on their own surface.
Folliculogenesis: Sequential process of ovarian follicle activation, growth and maturation leading to ovulation.
Steroidogenesis: Biosynthetic pathway in granulosa (and theca) cells converting cholesterol to oestrogens and progestogens.
IGF1: Insulin-like growth factor 1, a peptide hormone that promotes cell growth and survival in granulosa cells.
IGFBP: Insulin-like growth factor binding protein, which regulates IGF1 availability and modulates receptor interaction.
References
- Loss of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA) Isoforms in Granulosa Cells Using pDmrt-1-Cre or Amhr2-Cre Reduces Fertility by Arresting Follicular Development and by Reducing Litter Size in Female Mice. PLOS ONE (2015).
- Intrafollicular fibroblast growth factor 13 in polycystic ovary syndrome: relationship with androgen levels and oocyte developmental competence. Journal of Ovarian Research (2018).
- Association between IGF-1 and IGFBPs in Blood and Follicular Fluid in Dairy Cows Under Field Conditions. Animals (2024).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.