1;Fertility Control;3 1.1;Preface;5 1.2;References;7 1.3;Contents;9 1.4;Contributors;11 1.5;New Insights into Ovarian Function;16 1.5.1;1 Introduction;17 1.5.2;2 Novel Aspects of Gonadal Development, Primordial Follicle Formation, and Early Follicle Growth;17 1.5.3;3 Transcription Factors That Regulate Early Postnatal Follicle Growth;19 1.5.4;4 Oocyte-Derived Growth Factors That Mediate Somatic Cell Function and Follicle Growth;22 1.5.5;5 Novel Regulatory Mechanisms That Control Follicle Growth and Differentiation;24 1.5.6;6 The TGFbeta Family in Regulation of Granulosa Cell Growth and Differentiation;25 1.5.7;7 New Mediators of Ovulation and Luteinization;28 1.5.8;8 New Regulators of Oocyte Maturation and Meiosis;30 1.5.9;9 Summary;31 1.5.10;References;32 1.6;Estrogen Signaling in the Regulation of Female Reproductive Functions;41 1.6.1;1 Introduction;42 1.6.2;2 Production of Estrogens;42 1.6.3;3 Cellular Mechanisms of Action;43 1.6.4;4 Estrogens and Contraception;44 1.6.4.1;4.1 Regulation of Estrogen Production;45 1.6.4.2;4.2 Regulation of Estrogen Action;45 1.6.5;5 Conclusions;46 1.6.6;References;47 1.7;Progesterone Receptors and Ovulation;48 1.7.1;1 Introduction;49 1.7.2;2 Progesterone Receptors Control LH-Induced FollicularRupture but Not Luteinization;50 1.7.3;3 Molecular Signaling Pathways That Mediate PR-Dependent Follicular Rupture;51 1.7.4;4 Regulation of Cumulus Matrix Components by PRs;51 1.7.5;5 Paracrine Growth Factor Signaling by PRs to Cumulus Cells;52 1.7.6;6 Transcriptional Programs Downstream of PRs;52 1.7.7;References;53 1.8;Contraception Targets in Mammalian Ovarian Development;56 1.8.1;1 Introduction;57 1.8.2;2 Ovarian Folliculogenesis and Exhaustion of the Primordial Follicle Pool;58 1.8.3;3 Early Folliculogenesis: Roles of Cytokines, Chemokines, Hormones and Growth Factors;60 1.8.4;4 Multiple Activator and Repressor Pathways Converge to Regulate Activation of the Primordial Follicle;62 1.8.5;5 Intracellular Signalling in Oocytes and Pregranulosa Cells in Primordial Follicles;62 1.8.6;6 Signal Transduction: The Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K) and the mTOR Pathways;63 1.8.7;7 Promoting and Regulating Early Follicle Growth and Development;65 1.8.8;8 Conclusions;70 1.8.9;References;71 1.9;Proteomics of Embryonic Implantation;78 1.9.1;1 Introduction;79 1.9.2;2 Proteomic/Secretomics of the Human Embryo;81 1.9.3;3 Proteomics of the Human Endometrium;83 1.9.4;4 Proteomics of Human Endometrial Fluid;85 1.9.5;5 Conclusions;87 1.9.6;References;87 1.10;Evaluation of Plasma Membrane Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent ATPase Isoform 4 as a Potential Target for Fertility Control;90 1.10.1;1 Introduction;91 1.10.1.1;1.1 The Need for New Safe, Effective, Non-hormonal Contraception;91 1.10.2;2 The Role of PMCA4 in Sperm Motility;93 1.10.3;3 The Plasma Membrane Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Calcium ATPases;94 1.10.3.1;3.1 Tissue Distribution of PMCA Isoforms and In vivo Specificity of Function;95 1.10.4;4 PMCA4 as a Suitable Drug Target;96 1.10.4.1;4.1 Suitability of the Structure of PMCA4 to Drug Targeting;96 1.10.4.2;4.2 Drugability of PMCA4;97 1.10.4.3;4.3 Target Validation: Modelling Target Action Using Knockout Mice;98 1.10.5;5 Identification of Hit Compounds;99 1.10.6;6 Specificity of Action of Potential PMCA4 Inhibitor;101 1.10.7;7 Conclusions;103 1.10.8;References;103 1.11;New Insights into Sperm Physiology and Pathology;108 1.11.1;1 Introduction;109 1.11.2;2 Oxidative Stress and Impaired Sperm Function;110 1.11.3;3 Impact of Oxidative Stress on Spermatozoa;111 1.11.3.1;3.1 Motility Loss;111 1.11.3.2;3.2 DNA Damage;111 1.11.4;4 The Physiological Role of ROS;115 1.11.5;5 Conclusions: Oxidative Stress in Infertility and Prospects for Contraception;118 1.11.6;References;120 1.12;The Epididymis as a Target for Male Contraceptive Development;125 1.12.1;1 Introduction;126 1.12.2;2 Infertile Males as a Contraceptive Paradigm;126 1.12.3;3 Transgenic Mice: Epididymal Models of Male Infertility;127 1.12.3.1;3.1 Infertile Male