Expression of stem cell factor and its receptor in human fetal and adult ovaries.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the immunocytochemical expression and presence of mRNA transcripts of stem cell factor (SCF) and its receptor (SCF-R) in ovaries from human adults and fetuses.


METHODS
Immunocytochemical and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) study.


METHODS
Major tertiary care and referral academic centers.


METHODS
Seven women and girls undergoing laparoscopic ovarian biopsy and 13 women undergoing second and third trimester pregnancy terminations.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Microscopic morphometric analysis, immunocytochemistry for SCF and SCF-R, and RT-PCR analyses.


RESULTS
There was strong to moderate immunocytochemical staining for SCF and its receptor in oocytes from primordial stages onward, but not in granulosa cells, in both fetal and adult ovarian samples. Transcripts of SCF and SCF-R RNA were detected by RT-PCR analyses for SCF and SCF-R.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of SCF and its receptor in ovarian tissue from fetuses and women suggests a possible role of SCF in growth initiation of human primordial follicles.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. ronita@clalit.org.il
Ronit
R
Abir
Benjamin
B
Fisch
Shaoguang
S
Jin
Mirian
M
Barnnet
Gania
G
Kessler-Icekson
Asangla
A
Ao
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology; D010053:Ovary / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit