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[The expression of transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor in human fetal ovary]
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Haidian District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Beijing 100080, China.
Objective:
To investigate the expression of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in cultured and uncultured human fetal ovary.
Methods:
The ovarian tissues were obtained from 20 human female fetuses from 16 to 40 weeks of gestational age and were cultured for 3-9 days. Expression of TGF-alpha and EGFR protein in the fetal ovarian tissues was examined by immunohistochemical technique.
Results:
TGF-alpha and EGFR were expressed in the oocytes of 17 fetal ovaries, in part of follicular cells and stromal cells. There was no correlation between gestational age and TGF-alpha, EGFR expression (P > 0.05). The immunostaining intensity of oocytes in the cultured fetal ovary was weaker than those of the uncultured ones (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
TGF-alpha and EGFR may play a role as intraovarian regulators through autocrine and paracrine mechanism.