title: Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and its receptors in human ovarian follicles from adults and fetuses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immunocytochemical expression and presence of mRNA transcripts for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and its four receptors (FGFR-1, -2, -3, and -4) 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
  Nine women and girls undergoing laparoscopic ovarian biopsy and 26 women undergoing second- and third-trimester pregnancy terminations.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microscopic morphometric analysis, immunocytochemistry for bFGF and its receptors, and RT-PCR analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proteins for bFGF, FGFR-2, FGFR-3, and FGFR-4 were identified in oocytes of all follicular classes. Immunocytochemical expression of bFGF and its receptors was detected in granulosa cells of follicles from adolescents/women but not from fetuses. There was no immunocytochemical expression of FGFR-1. Transcripts of bFGF and its four receptors were identified by RT-PCR in all samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of bFGF and its receptors in human ovaries suggests that bFGF might have a role in early folliculogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva, Israel. yudavi@inter.net.il
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben-Haroush
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abir
authors.forename: Asangla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ao
authors.forename: Shaoguang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Gania
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kessler-Icekson
authors.forename: Dov
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feldberg
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fisch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000502:physiology; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000502:physiology; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051498:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051499:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; D051498:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3; D051499:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 4