title: Immunocytochemical localization of growth factors and their receptors in human pre-embryos and Fallopian tubes.
abstract: We utilized indirect immunocytochemistry to demonstrate the presence of growth factors and their receptors in human pre-embryos and Fallopian tubes. In pre-embryos, only transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and the intracellular domain of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were found at the 4-cell stage. In 8- to 14-cell pre-embryos, TGF-alpha, the intracellular and extracellular domains of EGFR, and insulin-like growth factor-I and its receptor were found. Antibodies against TGF-alpha stained all Fallopian tube specimens, while the extracellular domains of EGFR was only found in specimens from patients with either blood type A or AB. These results suggest a cross-reactivity between the extracellular domain of the EGFR and blood group antigens. Our novel demonstration of growth factor receptor staining in human pre-embryos shows that growth factor receptor localization is dependent on the developmental stage of human pre-embryos. We have also established a potentially important link between the Fallopian tube which secretes growth factors and the localization of growth factor receptors in pre-embryos. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that tubal secretions are embryotrophic for the early development of the pre-embryo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Smotrich
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stillman
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Widra
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Gindoff
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graubert
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000032:analysis*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000032:analysis; D015053:Zygote / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1