# Role of LH-induced cell migration and cofilin dephosphorylation in ovulation

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT · 2022 · $40,352

## Abstract

Project Abstract:
In the ovary, luteinizing hormone (LH) signals through the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) to initiate the
transition from preovulatory follicle to corpus luteum. Essential to this transition are the movement of the oocyte
to the site of ovulation, basal lamina breakdown, and reorganization of the granulosa cells to form the corpus
luteum. LHR-expressing cells migrate inwards in response to LH and at later time points after LH stimulation,
the basal lamina is pulled inwards in regions of high HA-LHR expression. These results have led to the
hypothesis that LH-induced granulosa cell migration aids in regulating the transition from preovulatory follicle to
corpus luteum. Previous studies in isolated granulosa cells have indicated that LH signaling disrupts actin to
allow cytoskeletal rearrangement and induces granulosa cell motility. One potential mediator of these actions is
cofilin, an actin-depolymerizing protein. Cofilin activity is required for directional cell motility in multiple cell types,
and expression of a dominant-negative form of the protein in granulosa cell inhibits LH-induced actin
reorganization. However, the role of cofilin dephosphorylation in vivo has yet to be investigated. This project
investigates the hypothesis that LH induces cell migration through dephosphorylation of cofilin, and that the
migration pulls the basal lamina inward to aid in rupture during ovulation and reorganizes the cells to begin
corpus luteum formation. In aim 1, live-tissue confocal and two-photon microscopy will be used to analyze
granulosa cell migration in intact follicles and determine how granulosa cell migration contributes to basal lamina
invaginations and ovulation. In aim two, a novel mouse line that expresses a dominant-negative form of cofilin
will be used to explore the hypothesis that cofilin dephosphorylation regulates granulosa cell migration. These
studies will provide novel information about the regulation of ovulation and could lead to clinical treatments for
anovulatory diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10386571
- **Project number:** 1F31HD107918-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT
- **Principal Investigator:** Corie Marie Owen
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $40,352
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10386571

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10386571, Role of LH-induced cell migration and cofilin dephosphorylation in ovulation (1F31HD107918-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10386571. Licensed CC0.

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