Growth hormone and its receptor in human ovaries from fetuses and adults.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence of growth hormone (GH) and its receptor (GH-R) in early developing follicles.


METHODS
Immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization study.


METHODS
Major tertiary care and referral academic centers.


METHODS
Ten ovarian samples from adults/girls aged 6-38 years and from 10 fetuses of 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 women/girls.


RESULTS
The proteins and the mRNA transcripts for GH and GH-R were detected in oocytes, granulosa (GC), and stroma cells from both sources (fetuses and women/girls), with low staining intensity only in a portion of the fetal GC.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of the expression of GH-R in human ovaries from fetuses as well as women/girls and of GH in human fetal ovaries. Be that as it may, further experiments should be conducted to elucidate if indeed GH is involved in the initiation of human primordial follicular growth.
Infertility and IVF Unit, Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. ronita@clalit.org.il
Ronit
R
Abir
Roni
R
Garor
Carmela
C
Felz
Shmuel
S
Nitke
Haim
H
Krissi
Benjamin
B
Fisch
D037881:Aborted Fetus / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; C051815:somatotropin-binding protein