Suppression of SEMA6C promotes preantral follicles atresia with decreased cell junctions in mice ovaries

Abstract Mammalian oocytes go through a long and complex developmental process, while acquiring the competencies that are required for fertilization and embryogenesis. Recent studies revealed that the communication between oocytes and granulosa cells (GCs) is a critical process for female follicle development. In the current study, we aimed to study whether and how semaphorin 6C ( Sema6c ) regulated the cell junctions between oocytes and GCs in mice preantral follicles. The attenuation of SEMA6C expression by siRNA decreased the cell–cell junctions and accelerated follicle atresia in vitro. PI3K‐AKT pathway was activated when SEMA6C expression was downregulated. And the LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, could reverse the effect of low SEMA6C expression on cell junctions in preantral follicles. Our findings revealed that Sema6c was involved in follicle development, and the suppression of SEMA6C led to cell junction defection by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway, which might also provide valuable information for understanding premature ovarian failure and ovarian aging.