title: Neurotrophin 4 enhances in vitro follicular assembly in human fetal ovaries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the in vitro effect of neurotrophin 4 (NT-4) on follicular assembly in human fetal ovaries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human ovarian tissue from fetuses at 19-20 gestational weeks was placed in organ culture for two weeks with NT-4. Control groups were cultured with a neutralizing antibody against NT-4.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infertility unit at an university-affiliated tertiary medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four patients who underwent pregnancy terminations at 19-20 gestational weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histologic findings of follicular assembly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Follicular assembly was significantly increased in the specimens cultured with NT-4 than in the uncultured specimens, the samples cultured without NT-4, and samples cultured with the neutralizing antibody. In the second week of culture, additional follicular assembly was promoted in the presence of 100 ng/mL NT-4 but not with 10 ng/mL NT-4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report showing that NT-4 seems to promote human follicular assembly in fetal ovaries, probably in a dose-dependent manner. Follicular assembly is regulated by multiple signals, and additional studies on the effects of other growth factors in combination with NT-4 are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Infertility and IVF Unit, Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Farhi
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fisch
authors.forename: Roni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garor
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peled
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pinkas
authors.forename: Ronit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abir
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; C073922:neurotrophin 4