Transforming growth factor-alpha in the adult bovine ovary: identification in growing ovarian follicles
The pituitary gonadotropins and gonadal steroids are required for normal follicular growth and development but neither has been shown to act directly as a granulosa cell mitogen in vitro. A number of polypeptide growth factors, however, are known to have pronounced mitogenic effects on the cells of...
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Published in | Biology of reproduction Vol. 40; no. 5; pp. 1087 - 1093 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Madison, WI
Society for the Study of Reproduction
01.05.1989
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The pituitary gonadotropins and gonadal steroids are required for normal follicular growth and development but neither has
been shown to act directly as a granulosa cell mitogen in vitro. A number of polypeptide growth factors, however, are known
to have pronounced mitogenic effects on the cells of the follicle. We have localized transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha),
a potent mitogen, in bovine thecal cells via immunoperoxidase staining using a monoclonal antibody for TGF-alpha that does
not cross-react with epidermal growth factor. TGF-alpha staining is most intense in the theca of follicles at the discrete
physiological stages known to show rapid granulosa cell growth (small follicles of 0.7-2.0 mm diameter). Staining intensity
for TGF-alpha declines in large preovulatory follicles, coincident with the known decline in granulosa cell mitosis. These
studies provide further evidence for paracrine interactions in the ovary and show that TGF-alpha may play an important role
in the regulation of follicular development in the adult bovine ovary. |
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Bibliography: | 9003447 L53 ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 |
ISSN: | 0006-3363 1529-7268 |
DOI: | 10.1095/biolreprod40.5.1087 |