How oocytes are transferred into an oviduct with a receptive environment remains poorly known. We found that glands of the Drosophila female reproductive tract, spermathecae and/or parovaria, required for ovulation and to promote sperm storage. Reducing total secretory cell number by interferring Notch signaling during development blocked ovulation. Knocking down expression after adult eclosion nuclear hormone receptor Hr39, master regulator gland development, slowed However, (but not...

The importance of connexins (Cxs) in cochlear functions has been demonstrated by the finding that mutations Cx genes cause a large proportion sensorineural hearing loss cases. However, it is still unclear how Cxs contribute to function. Recent data ( 33 ) obtained from Cx30 knockout mice showing reduction diversity assembling gap junctions sufficient deafness suggest functional interactions different subtypes may be essential normal hearing. In this work we show two major forms (Cx26 and...

During Drosophila mid-oogenesis, follicular epithelial cells switch from the mitotic cycle to specialized endocycle in which M phase is skipped. The switch, along with cell differentiation follicle cells, induced by Notch signaling. We show that homeodomain gene cut functions as a linker between and genes are involved cell-cycle progression. Cut was expressed proliferating but not endocycle. Downregulation of expression controlled pathway essential for differentiate enter properly....

Ovulation is critical for successful reproduction and correlates with ovarian cancer risk, yet genetic studies of ovulation have been limited. It has long thought that the mechanism controlling highly divergent due to speciation fast evolution. Using tools available in Drosophila, we now report Drosophila strongly resembles mammalian at both cellular molecular levels. Just one up 32 mature follicles per ovary pair loses posterior follicle cells ("trimming") protrudes into oviduct, showing a...

Although ecdysteroid signaling regulates multiple steps in oogenesis, it is not known whether Drosophila ovulation, a process involving matrix metalloproteinase-dependent follicle rupture. In this study, we demonstrated that operating mature cells to control ovulation. Moreover, knocking down shade (shd), encoding the monooxygenase converts ecdysone (E) more active 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), specifically cells, blocked rupture, which was rescued by ectopic expression of shd or exogenous 20E....

The developmental signals that regulate the switch from genome-wide DNA replication to site-specific amplification remain largely unknown. Drosophila melanogaster epithelial follicle cells, which begin synchronized chorion gene after three rounds of endocycle, provide an excellent model for study endocycle/gene (E/A) switch. Here, we report down-regulation Notch signaling and activation ecdysone receptor (EcR) are required E/A in these cells. Extended activity suppresses EcR prevents exit...

Clearance of dying cells is essential for tissue homeostasis and requires both professional non-professional phagocytes; however, it unclear what promotes phagocytosis by phagocytes. Follicle Drosophila egg chambers function as phagocytes to clear large germ cell debris in mid late oogenesis, providing an excellent model the study Here we demonstrate that GATA factor Serpent (Srp) plays indispensable role promoting phagocytic capacity follicle processes. Srp upregulated degenerating...

Excessive mature follicle accumulation in ovaries harms oocyte health and offspring viability. As such, the number of follicles is tightly controlled. In Drosophila, each ovary comprised ~16 ovarioles, containing 1-2 follicles, regardless female mating status. The mechanism by which flies count to coordinate egg release oogenesis remains a mystery. Previous work, along with our RNAseq antibody analysis, demonstrated that Drosophila insulin-like peptide 8 (DILP8) expressed somatic cells but...

Ovulation is essential for the propagation of species and involves a proteolytic degradation follicle wall release fertilizable oocyte. However, precise mechanisms regulating these events are largely unknown. Work from our lab others have shown that there several parallels between Drosophila mammalian ovulation at both cellular molecular levels. During in Drosophila, posterior cells surrounding mature oocyte selectively degraded residual remain ovary to form corpus luteum after rupture. Like...

Significance Reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause oxidative stress and damage in many pathological conditions, but they can also function as signaling molecules physiological processes. It is difficult, however, to decipher where ROS come from which are involved these In this article, we demonstrate that a NADPH oxidase (NOX) an extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD3) follicle cells of Drosophila egg chambers produce hydrogen peroxide, regulates rupture ovulation, process essential for...

Diabetes mellitus (DM) facilitates atrial fibrosis and increases the risk of fibrillation (AF). The underlying mechanism DM in causing AF remains mostly unknown potential therapeutic targets for DM‑induced are rarely reported. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has drawn considerable attention recent years its as a cardiovascular protector. Thus, aim present study was to investigate effect H2S on action. Sprague‑Dawley rats were divided into four groups, including control group, group DM+H2S group....

Multicellular development requires the correct spatial and temporal regulation of cell division differentiation. These processes are frequently coordinated by activities various signaling pathways such as Notch signaling. From a screen for modifiers in Drosophila we have identified RNA helicase Belle, recently described component interference pathway, an important regulator timing activity follicle cells. We found that loss Belle delays activation signaling, which results delayed...

The NR5A-family nuclear receptors are highly conserved and function within the somatic follicle cells of ovary to regulate folliculogenesis ovulation in mammals; however, their roles Drosophila ovaries largely unknown. Here, we discover that Ftz-f1, one NR5A Drosophila, is transiently induced late stages oogenesis via ecdysteroid signaling. Genetic disruption Ftz-f1 expression prevents cell differentiation into final maturation stage, which leads anovulation. In addition, demonstrate...

Gamete development is a fundamental process that highly conserved from early eukaryotes to mammals. As germ cells develop, they must coordinate dynamic series of cellular processes support growth, cell specification, patterning, the loading maternal factors (RNAs, proteins, and nutrients), differentiation structures enable fertilization ensure embryonic survival, other make functional oocyte. To achieve these goals, integrate complex milieu environmental developmental signals produce...

Follicle rupture, the final step in ovulation, utilizes conserved molecular mechanisms including matrix metalloproteinases (Mmps), steroid signaling, and adrenergic signaling. It is still unknown how follicles become competent for follicle rupture/ovulation. Here, we identify a zinc-finger transcription factor Hindsight (Hnt) as first regulating follicle's competency ovulation Drosophila. Hnt not expressed immature stage-13 cells but upregulated mature stage-14 cells, which essential...

Temporal and spatial regulation of cell division is critical for proper development multicellular organisms. An important aspect this cell-cycle arrest, which in many types coupled with differentiated status. Here we report that the polar cells--a group follicle cells early during Drosophila oogenesis--are arrested at G2 phase can serve as a model type investigation developmental arrest. On examining effects String, mitosis-promoting phosphatase Cdc25 homolog, Notch signaling cells, found...

Significance Due to undesirable side effects and other risk factors of current hormonal contraceptives, the world has increasing demand for novel nonsteroidal contraceptives. Unfortunately, development contraceptives women is completely stalled due little investment from big pharmaceutical companies in this field lack effective screening platforms. In manuscript, we describe a phenotypic platform utilizing Drosophila ovulation assay identify lead compounds that can efficiently inhibit...

Proper development and maturation of a follicle is essential for successful ovulation reproduction; however, molecular mechanisms maturation, particularly somatic cell differentiation, are poorly understood. During Drosophila oogenesis, the cells encasing oocytes undergo two distinct well-established transitions: mitotic to endocycle switch at stage 6/7 gene amplification stage10A/10B. Here, we identify novel third transition that occurs in final stages oogenesis (stage 13/14). This late...

Across species, ovulation is a process induced by myriad of signaling cascades that ultimately leads to the release encapsulated oocytes from follicles. Follicles first need mature and gain ovulatory competency before ovulation; however, pathways regulating follicle maturation are incompletely understood in Drosophila other species. Our previous work has shown bHLH-PAS transcription factor Single-minded (Sim) plays important roles downstream nuclear receptor Ftz-f1 Drosophila. Here, we...

Drosophila matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) is specifically expressed in posterior follicle cells of stage-14 egg chambers (mature follicles) and crucial for the breakdown follicular wall during ovulation, a process that highly conserved from flies to mammals. The factors regulate spatiotemporal expression MMP2 remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate roles ETS-family transcriptional activator Pointed (Pnt) its endogenous repressor Yan regulation expression. We found Pnt overlaps with mature...