title: PTEN and Akt expression during growth of human ovarian follicles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the expression of PTEN and total and phosphorylated Akt in human ovarian follicles during follicular growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemistry of ovarian tissues and Western blotting and immunofluorescence of primary cultured luteinized granulosa cells for PTEN and Akt.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunoreactivity of Akt was found in the oocytes, granulosa cells and theca cells in primordial follicles, follicles at each growing stage and luteal cells. As the follicles grew, staining for PTEN became intense in the granulosa cells, whereas the intensity of phospho-Akt became weak. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis using primary cultured granulosa-lutein cells showed Akt and PTEN expression, and phosphorylation of Akt in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTEN and Akt are present in the granulosa cells during folliculogenesis. An increase in PTEN may lead to changes in proliferation and/or differentiation of granulosa cells during follicular growth via regulation of Akt phosphorylation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwase
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Shozo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurotsuchi
authors.forename: Toko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harata
authors.forename: Fumitaka
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kikkawa
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009865:Oocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000378:metabolism*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D013799:Theca Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human