title: Expression of plexin-B1 in the mouse ovary and its possible role in follicular development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression of plexin-B1 in the mouse ovary and its possible role in follicular development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research laboratory, Ha'Emek Medical Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  ICR female mice (n = 36) were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plexin-B1 expression by immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Microscopic morphometric and morphologic analysis for the evaluation of mouse follicular growth and E2, P, and T secretion from the developed follicles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plexin-B1 was expressed in the mouse ovary mostly in the granulosa cells. Plexin-B1 gene expression increased significantly by 126.8% +/- 38% in the pregnant mare serum gonadotropin-treated group and increased by 98.7% +/- 15.2 and 262.2% +/- 65.4% in the hCG-treated group 6 h and 24 h after injection, respectively (ANOVA; P < .05). Comparison of the maximum diameters of the control and study groups on day 9 of the culture period revealed a significant difference between the two groups (P < .001). In the control group, the mean maximum diameter was 191 +/- 2.6 microm compared with 136 +/- 5.13 microm in the presence of neutralizing antibodies against plexin-B1. Neutralizing antibody against plexin-B1 decreases E2 and P secretion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows for the first time the expression of plexin-B1 in the mouse ovary. A possible role for plexin-B1 in follicular growth and steroidogenesis, most likely via the granulosa cells, is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ha'Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Avital
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Regev
authors.forename: Shlomit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Eliezer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shalev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C492119:PLXNB1 protein, human; C492118:Plxnb1 protein, mouse; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface