Follicular expression of c-Kit/SCF and inhibin-alpha in mouse ovary during development.
The mechanism of development of the ovarian follicles has been largely unknown. We performed an immunohistochemical (IHC) study to determine the follicular expressions of c-kit, SCF, and inhibin-alpha at different developmental stages in mouse ovary. Ovaries were obtained from 14 and 16 days post coitum and 2, 7, and 21 days post partum (dpp) mice. IHC for c-kit, SCF, and inhibin-alpha was carried out. c-Kit and SCF were expressed on oogonia regardless of the developmental stage. Immunoreactive c-kit and SCF antigens were expressed on oocytes of primordial and primary follicles of neonate mouse ovaries. In 21 dpp mouse ovary, the expression of c-kit/SCF in oocytes gradually decreased as the follicles developed. c-Kit/SCF was expressed strongly in oocytes of preantral follicles and weakly in granulosa and thecal cells. Inhibin-alpha was mainly expressed on granulosa cells of preantral and early antral follicles of the 21 dpp mouse ovaries. These findings suggest that the IHC expression of c-kit/SCF proteins is specific in all developmental stages of ovarian follicles and is decreased after the follicle starts to grow. The expression of inhibin-alpha is negatively correlated with the expression of c-kit/SCF in the ovarian follicles in mice.
Kang
Jae Seong
JS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Chang Joo
CJ
Lee
Jong Min
JM
Rha
Joong Yeol
JY
Song
Kang Won
KW
Park
Moon Hyang
MH
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000096:biosynthesis*
C094377:inhibin-alpha subunit; D007265:Inhibins; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit