Possible Functions of Intermediate Filaments in Mammalian Ovarian Follicles and Oocytes

Abstract

Intermediate filaments (IFs) are cytoskeletal structures that primarily maintain the structural and mechanical integrity of cells and tissues. However, recent evidence reveals that IFs participate in a number of critical cellular processes, such as regulation of the cytoplasmic architecture, cell growth, cell migration, organelle positioning, signaling, and/or regulating transcription. Although IFs have been studied in various somatic cells of many species, we focus here mainly on data obtained from studies in mammalian ovarian follicles and oocytes. The ovarian follicles contain keratin, vimentin, desmin, nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilaments. The characteristic structural features and expression patterns of the different members of the IF protein family will be discussed in mammalian ovarian tissues and oocytes.