Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and its receptors in human ovarian follicles from adults and fetuses

Avi Ben-Haroush*, Ronit Abir, Asangla Ao, Shaoguang Jin, Gania Kessler-Icekson, Dov Feldberg, Benjamin Fisch

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the immunocytochemical expression and presence of mRNA transcripts for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and its four receptors (FGFR-1, -2, -3, and -4) in ovaries from human adults and fetuses. Design: Immunocytochemical and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) study. Setting: Major tertiary care and referral academic centers. Patient(s): Nine women and girls undergoing laparoscopic ovarian biopsy and 26 women undergoing second- and third-trimester pregnancy terminations. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Microscopic morphometric analysis, immunocytochemistry for bFGF and its receptors, and RT-PCR analyses. Result(s): The proteins for bFGF, FGFR-2, FGFR-3, and FGFR-4 were identified in oocytes of all follicular classes. Immunocytochemical expression of bFGF and its receptors was detected in granulosa cells of follicles from adolescents/women but not from fetuses. There was no immunocytochemical expression of FGFR-1. Transcripts of bFGF and its four receptors were identified by RT-PCR in all samples. Conclusion(s): The expression of bFGF and its receptors in human ovaries suggests that bFGF might have a role in early folliculogenesis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1257-1268
Number of pages12
JournalFertility and Sterility
Volume84
Issue numberSUPPL. 2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2005

Funding

FundersFunder number
Israel Cancer Association

    Keywords

    • Immunocytochemistry
    • Primordial follicles
    • RT-PCR
    • bFGF
    • bFGF receptors
    • mRNA

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