Fumio Otsuka

TL;DR: The physiological importance of the BMP system for mammalian reproduction has been further highlighted by the elucidation of the aberrant reproductive phenotypes of animals with naturally occurring mutations or targeted deletions of certain BMP family genes.

TL;DR: GCs are identified as the first target cells for bone morphogenetic protein-15, and BMP-15 is the first growth factor that can coordinate GC proliferation and differentiation in a way that reflects normal physiology.

TL;DR: It is found that administration of BMP-15 causes a rapid and transient phosphorylation, thus activation, of the Smad1/5/8 pathway, suggesting a selective signaling cascade in GC proliferation and differentiation.

TL;DR: The purpose of this article is to review the genetic studies of GDF9 and BMP‐15 mutations identified in women and sheep, as well as describing the various knockout and overexpressing mouse models, and to summarize the molecular and biological functions that underlie the crucial role of these two oocyte factors in female fertility.

TL;DR: It is proposed that oocyte-derived bone morphogenetic protein-15 is an important determinant of FSH action through its ability to inhibit FSH receptor expression, which could have new implications for understanding how oocyte growth factors contribute to folliculogenesis.