Ovarian transforming growth factor-alpha gene expression: immunohistochemical localization to the theca-interstitial cells.
Rat ovaries were examined for the presence of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha). Immature diethylstilbestrol-primed rats were treated for 3 days prior to sacrifice with or without FSH. Their ovaries were either fixed in formaldehyde for immunohistochemistry or the RNA was extracted for northern blot analysis. Hybridization with a rat TGF-alpha cDNA probe revealed a 4.5 kilobase mRNA whose abundance was markedly stimulated in the rats treated with FSH. Immunohistochemical staining, using a sequence specific monoclonal antibody to TGF-alpha, MF9, detected immunoreactive TGF-alpha only in the interstitial and theca cells. FSH treatment resulted in no appreciable change in the immunostaining. These results suggest that TGF-alpha is synthesized in the ovary, perhaps in the theca-interstitial compartment.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors
D010455:Peptides; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors