Abstract: Luteinizing hormone (LH) increases granulosa cell secretion of prostaglandin E2(PGE2).And by paracrine and autocrine signals, PGE2 acts at cumulus cells’ prostaglandin receptor 2 (PTGER2) ,activates the adenylate cyclase (AC),and increases intracellular (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) cAMP content and the synthesis of hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha mediated protein 6.Finally it would promote cumulus cells expansion. PGE2 also regulates the steroid metabolism pathway of granular cells and impacts the secretion of progesterone, and regulates the function of corpus. This paper describes the mechanism and function of PGE2 in the process of follicular development.

Key words: follicular development, ovulation, cumulus cells, Prostaglandin E2, Prostaglandin receptors