Anti-Müllerian hormone signaling in the ovary involves stromal fibroblasts: a study in humans and mice provides novel insights into the role of ovarian stroma.

Study Question: What is the involvement of ovarian stroma in the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) signaling pathway and which stromal cells are involved?

Summary Answer: Mouse and human ovaries show high expression of AMH receptor II (AMHR2) in the stromal fibroblasts surrounding the follicles and activation of the post-AMHR2 pathway by recombinant AMH was evidenced by increased phosphorylation of SMAD1,5 and 9, increased expression AMHR2 and upregulation of αSMA, suggesting fibroblast activation to initiate myofibroblast differentiation.

What Is Known Already: AMH secreted by small growing follicles, regulates ovarian activity. It suppresses initial primordial follicle (PMF) recruitment and FSH-dependent growth.

Anti-cancer binary system activated by bacteriophage HK022 integrase.

The binary system presented in this work is based on the bacteriophage HK022 integrase recombinase that activates the expression of a silenced Diphtheria toxin gene, both controlled by the cancer specific promoter. Using a lung cancer mice model, assays of different apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors have demonstrated that the Integrase based binary system is highly specific towards cancer cells and more efficient compared to the conventional mono system whose toxin is directly expressed under . In a mice survival test, this binary system demonstrated longer persistence compared to the untreated and the mono treated ones.

Follicle activation is a significant and immediate cause of follicle loss after ovarian tissue transplantation.

Purpose: Extensive follicle loss has been demonstrated in ovarian grafts post transplantation, reducing their productivity and lifespan. Several mechanisms for this loss have been proposed, and this study aims to clarify when and how the massive follicle loss associated with transplantation of ovarian tissue graft occurs. An understanding of the mechanisms of follicle loss will pinpoint potential new targets for optimization and improvement of this important fertility preservation technique.