A mechanistic review of how hypoxic mircroenvironment regulates mammalian ovulation

Abstract Mammalian ovulation is a complicated process that includes development of follicles, ovulation, formation of corpus luteum and luteolysis. The three different stages of the ovulation activity are affected by hypoxic microenvironment and hypoxia-induced factors (HIF), which play a crucial role in physiologyical processes, such as angiogenesis and inflammation. Although the process of ovulation has been well elucidated, the molecular mechanism regulated by hypoxia needs an in depth study. In this review, we summarize how hypoxic and HIF regulate gene expression during mammalian ovulation in order to provide a better understanding of ovulation mechanism, which may lay a theoretical basis for prevention and therapy of various ovarian diseases.