Immunohistochemical expression of MMP-14 and MMP-2, and MMP-2 activity during human ovarian follicular development.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of MMP-14 and MMP-2 during human ovarian follicular development using immunohistochemistry, and the activity of MMP-2 in follicular fluid using zymography.


METHODS
Ovarian tissue collected from the archives of the Department of Pathology was examined and medical records and histopathology were reviewed. Follicular fluids were collected at the IVF-department and analyzed using zymography.


RESULTS
MMP-14 and MMP-2 were increasingly found in the growing follicles and MMP-2 was highly expressed in the corpus luteum. Pro-MMP-2 was present in follicular fluid of IVF-patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of MMP-14 and MMP-2 during human ovarian follicular development from the primordial follicle to the tertiary follicle and corpus luteum is confirmed, as was indicated by earlier animal studies following stimulation with gonadotrophins.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St, Elisabeth Hospital, PO Box 90151, 5000 LC Tilburg, the Netherlands. c.vos@elisabeth.nl.
Maria Caroline
MC
Vos
Anneke Am
AA
van der Wurff
Jessie T J
JT
Last
Ella A M
EA
de Boed
Jesper M J
JM
Smeenk
Toin H
TH
van Kuppevelt
Leon F A G
LF
Massuger
D000328:Adult; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D053511:Matrix Metalloproteinase 14