Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Is Necessary for Ovulation in Female Rhesus Macaques

What is it about?

Currently, the events that are necessary for the release of an egg from the ovary that is capable of being fertilized (i.e., ovulation) are not well understood. This is particularly true in the primate ovary. By looking at all of the genes that are "turned on" in response the hormones that initiate the events necessary for ovulation in primates, our laboratory determined that one factor, a cytokine termed leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), is produced at significant levels in the ovarian follicle preceding its rupture and release of the egg. When LIF action is blocked, ovulation does not occur. These findings reveal, for the first time, that LIF is critical for ovulation in primates.

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Why is it important?

Our findings reveal a key role for the cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in primate ovulation. This is in contrast to findings in rodents that demonstrate LIF plays a role in implantation, but not ovulation. Thus, there are key differences in the cellular processes in rodents and primates in terms of the cellular processes that control ovarian function.