Newly discovered ovulation regulator holds promise for managing infertility

Cornell researchers have discovered a new cell signaling pathway involved in ovulation, a potential target for future research on infertility, contraception and ovarian disease.

Semaphorin proteins have been shown to be critical players in the vascular, nervous and immune systems, and in cancer development. Semaphorin 3E (Sema3E) also plays a role in facilitating ovulation in mice, according to a paper published May 20 in Advanced Science and co-authored by 10 Cornell researchers and two colleagues from Baylor College of Medicine. First author is Hanxue Zhang, postdoctoral associate in the lab of Yi Athena Ren, assistant professor of animal science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.