J Endocrinol 1984 Apr 01;1011:7-12. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1010007.

Induction of germinal vesicle breakdown in Xenopus laevis oocytes: synergistic action of progesterone and insulin.

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Progesterone is the hormone that reinitiates the meiotic division of amphibian oocytes and insulin and insulin-like growth factors are also active on defolliculated oocytes in vitro. We have studied Xenopus laevis oocytes (stage 5-6) of different hormonal sensitivities, obtained from unstimulated and from human chorionic gonadotrophin-stimulated females. Some oocytes from unstimulated females were also precultured with a subthreshold level of progesterone. A dose-dependent potentiating effect of the action of progesterone was observed with insulin, and this was particularly remarkable in low-sensitivity oocytes. Since in the presence of insulin, the optimally effective concentration of progesterone was much reduced (as an example from 1 mumol/1 to 50 nmol/l), it is suggested that an insulin-like growth factor may play a physiological role in the reinitiation of meiosis in ovaries.

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Species referenced: Xenopus laevis
Genes referenced: ins