title: Expression of bone morphogenetic proteins 4 and 7 and their receptors IA, IB, and II in human ovaries from fetuses and adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immunocytochemical and mRNA expression of bone morphogenetic proteins 4 (BMP-4) and 7 (BMP-7) and their three receptors (BMPR-IA, BMPR-IB, and BMPR-II) in ovaries from human adults and fetuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Major tertiary care and referral academic centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen adolescents/adults aged 13-38 years and 31 women undergoing second and third trimester pregnancy terminations.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization on paraffin sections of human ovaries from fetuses and adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of the proteins for BMP-4 and BMP-7 and their receptors was detected in oogonia/oocytes and stroma cells from both sources (fetuses and women/adolescents). BMP-7 and the three receptors were identified in all of these granulosa cells, and BMP-4 was detected only in the granulosa cells of women/adolescents. Transcripts for all five ligands were identified in stroma cells of all samples and in fetal oogonia/oocytes. BMPR-IA and BMPR-IB mRNA expression was also identified in oocytes from women/adolescents. BMP-7 and BMPR-IA mRNA staining was detected in fetal granulosa cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report of the expression of BMP-4 and BMP-7 and their receptors in human ovaries from fetuses as well as adults. However, to elucidate whether indeed BMP-4 or BMP-7 are involved in the initiation of human primordial follicular growth, they should be added to the culture medium.
authors.affiliation: Infertility and IVF Unit, Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva, Israel. ronita@clalit.org.il
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abir
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben-Haroush
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Melamed
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Felz
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krissi
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fisch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C525809:BMP4 protein, human; C525819:BMP7 protein, human; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II