The involvement of the Toll-like receptor family in ovulation.

Abstract

Ovulation is similar to an inflammatory response and is associated with increased production of prostaglandins as well as local growth regulatory factors. However, the expression and function of innate immune cell-related genes in non-immune cells within the ovary has been reported recently and provides a novel and important regulatory system during ovulation. Several members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) surveillance system are expressed in granulosa cells and cumulus cells. These receptors can be activated by pathogens as well as endogenous ligands leading to the induction and release of potent cytokines and chemokines from cumulus cells. These inflammatory factors exert potent effects on cumulus cell-oocyte expansion, ovulation, transport and fertilization indicating that ovulation is a more complex immune-inflammatory process than previously recognized.