Research

Overview

We study the molecular mechanisms involved in ovarian follicle assembly and primordial follicle activation. Using mutant mouse and rat models, we investigate the early developmental cues in the ovary. We recently detected that ERβ mediated transcriptional regulation is essential for preventing excessive loss of ovarian follicles. Our ongoing work focuses on identifying the ERβ regulated genes in oocytes and granulosa cells that control primordial follicle activation. The ultimate goal of our research is to utilize novel molecular targets for protecting ovarian follicle reserve.