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Updated: Oct 2, 2026

Alginate Hydrogels for Three-Dimensional Organ Culture of Ovaries and Oviducts
Published on: June 20, 2011
Growth factors and ovarian function: the IGF-I paradigm
1Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201.
The large body of information now supports the existence of an intraovarian IGF system replete with ligands, receptors, and binding proteins. The intraovarian IGF system is most likely concerned with the amplification of gonadotropin hormonal action, other potential regulatory roles remaining speculative at this time. There is every reason to believe that work in this area in the upcoming several years will yield new insight necessary to establish whether or not IGFs are truly indispensable to ovarian function. At this time, this ultimate requirement remains to be demonstrated through selective ablation of ovarian IGF-I gene expression and the examination of the impact of such manipulation on reproductive potential.
The large body of information now supports the existence of an intraovarian IGF system replete with ligands, receptors, and binding proteins. The intraovarian IGF system is most likely concerned with the amplification of gonadotropin hormonal action, other potential regulatory roles remaining speculative at this time. There is every reason to believe that work in this area in the upcoming several years will yield new insight necessary to establish whether or not IGFs are truly indispensable to ovarian function. At this time, this ultimate requirement remains to be demonstrated through selective ablation of ovarian IGF-I gene expression and the examination of the impact of such manipulation on reproductive potential.
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