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Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Gene Expression Analyses in Human Follicles
Published on: February 17, 2023
Expression and actions of transforming growth factors during human follicular development
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Objective:
To correlate the temporal expression of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and TGF-beta genes in granulosa cells (GC) and thecal cells from human follicles at various developmental stages and to determine their trophic effects on GCs.
Design:
Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of extracted RNA from follicular GCs and theca cells.
Setting:
Academic endocrinology laboratory.
Patient(S):
Premenopausal women undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for nonovarian reasons.
Intervention(S):
None.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Confirmation by the RT-PCR product for TGF-alpha and TGF-beta gene expression in GC and theca cells from human follicles at various developmental stages and (3)H-thymidine uptake in vitro to assess growth effects on GCs.
Result(S):
The RT-PCR product indicating the presence of TGF-alpha messenger RNA (mRNA) was found consistently in theca from healthy antral follicles. In theca from large follicles (>1.0 cm) the TGF-alpha PCR product was of reduced intensity. The TGF-alpha was absent or undetectable in granulosa cells from all follicle sizes. The PCR product for TGF-beta was generated by all GC and thecal cell RNAs from all follicle sizes examined. The TGF-alpha promoted and TGF-beta inhibited human GC growth.
Conclusion(S):
The presence of TGF-alpha gene expression in thecal cells coincides with periods of follicular growth. The expression of TGF-beta occurs in both cell types throughout antral follicle development. The TGF-alpha and TGF-beta have opposing trophic effects on GCs.
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