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Research progress on the biological effects of HIF-1α on follicle development and ovulation

MA Lin-Na¹, MA Kun², FAN Xiao-Di^3,*, ZHANG Han¹, LI Jia-Ni⁴, GAO Shan-Feng⁴

¹Graduate School, Tianjin University of Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 301617, China；²Department of Continuing Education, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China；³Beijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China；⁴Gynecology Department, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China

Abstract

Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), as a hypoxia inducible factor, affects women’s reproductive function by regulating the development and excretion of follicles. HIF-1α induces glycolysis and autophagy in the granule cells by promoting oocyte development, regulating the secretion of related angiogenic factors, and improving follicle maturity. In addition, HIF-1α promotes the process of luteinization of follicular vesicles, maintains luteal function, and finally completes physiological luteal atrophy through cumulative oxidative stress. Dysfunction of HIF-1α will cause a series of pathological consequences, such as angiogenesis defect, energy metabolism abnormality, excessive oxidative stress and dysregulated autophagy and apoptosis, resulting in ovulation problem and infertility. This article summarizes the previous studies on the regulation of follicle development and excretion and maintenance of luteal function and structural atrophy by HIF-1α. We also describe the effective intervention mechanism of related drugs or bioactive ingredients on follicular dysplasia and ovulation disorders through HIF-1α, in order to provide a systematic and in-depth insights for solving ovulation disorder infertility.

Key words: hypoxia inducible factor-1α; follicular development; ovulation

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 范晓迪　　E-mail: xiaodi.1018@163.com

DOI: 10.13294/j.aps.2023.0068

Citing This Article：

MA Lin-Na, MA Kun, FAN Xiao-Di, ZHANG Han, LI Jia-Ni, GAO Shan-Feng. Research progress on the biological effects of HIF-1α on follicle development and ovulation. Acta Physiol Sin 2023; 75 (5): 727-735 (in Chinese with English abstract).