About this Research Topic
The ovaries are perhaps the most dynamic organ in the human body. Although the ovary ensures female fertility and support generations of species, the ovary begins to decline around 30 years of age in human, and ovarian aging notably increases the risk of birth defects in offspring. The follicles are the basic structure and function units of ovaries, and folliculogenesis is the physiological fundamental to achieve ovarian functions. Generally, the follicles grow through the primordial, primary, secondary, antral, and preovulatory stages, and the dominant follicle ovulates to release the mature oocyte for fertilization, although most follicles undergo atretic degeneration. Since the size increases and remodels by thousands of folds from primordial to dominant follicles, it is of note to unmask the genetic and epigenetic changes during folliculogenesis.
More recently, significant progress and technologies have been made in the study of folliculogenesis in mammals. With this research topic, we would like to tackle the genetic and epigenetic changes of (1) the maturation of the oocytes; (2) the extensive cellular proliferation and differentiation of the granulosa cells and theca cells; (3) the accumulation of follicular fluid in the antrum; and (4) the related diseases in ovarian. We aim to collect the genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and phenomics of folliculogenesis in mammals, including theca cells, granulosa cells (GCs) (e.g. cumulus GCs, mural GCs, and progenitor GCs), and stromal cells (e.g. smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells) as well as female reproductive stem cells. These would provide an overview of advances in folliculogenesis and help to identify the new mechanism underlying ovarian aging.
We welcome submissions of various types of manuscripts, including original research papers, reviews, and methods, covering but not limited to:
- Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms and progression of folliculogenesis
- Genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and phenomics of folliculogenesis
- Single-cell multi-omics of oocytes, theca cells, GCs, and stromal cells as well as female reproductive stem cells
- Molecular, quantitative and statistical genetics related to ovarian aging.
Please note: if your data are collected from animals but not humans, please discuss how your findings are beneficial to human follicugenesis.
More recently, significant progress and technologies have been made in the study of folliculogenesis in mammals. With this research topic, we would like to tackle the genetic and epigenetic changes of (1) the maturation of the oocytes; (2) the extensive cellular proliferation and differentiation of the granulosa cells and theca cells; (3) the accumulation of follicular fluid in the antrum; and (4) the related diseases in ovarian. We aim to collect the genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and phenomics of folliculogenesis in mammals, including theca cells, granulosa cells (GCs) (e.g. cumulus GCs, mural GCs, and progenitor GCs), and stromal cells (e.g. smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells) as well as female reproductive stem cells. These would provide an overview of advances in folliculogenesis and help to identify the new mechanism underlying ovarian aging.
We welcome submissions of various types of manuscripts, including original research papers, reviews, and methods, covering but not limited to:
- Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms and progression of folliculogenesis
- Genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and phenomics of folliculogenesis
- Single-cell multi-omics of oocytes, theca cells, GCs, and stromal cells as well as female reproductive stem cells
- Molecular, quantitative and statistical genetics related to ovarian aging.
Please note: if your data are collected from animals but not humans, please discuss how your findings are beneficial to human follicugenesis.
Keywords: Genetics, Epigenetics, Follicular development, Ovarian function, Female fertility
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
