International Journal of
Genetics and Molecular Biology

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Genet. Mol. Biol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2006-9863
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJGMB
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 139

Review

Role of apoptosis-related factors in follicular atresia

Basak Gumus, Sevtap Kilic and Ebru Zulfikaroglu*
Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Care Education and Research Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara, Turkey
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 02 July 2012
  •  Published: 30 October 2013

Abstract

Follicular atresia is the term used for the fate of follicles which undergo degenerative changes before rupturing during ovulation. Recent studies suggest that granulosa cell apoptosis play a major role in follicular atresia. The factors which lead the cell to apoptosis and which protect the cell death, still remain complicated and more studies are needed to elucidate the whole process. Here in this review, we aimed to simplify the factors and mechanisms taking place in granulosa cell apoptosis, to make the process more understandable.

 

Key words: Granulosa cell, apoptosis, follicular atresia.