Transforming growth factor-alpha in the adult bovine ovary: identification in growing ovarian follicles

• Published in: Biology of reproduction Vol. 40; no. 5; pp. 1087 - 1093
• Main Authors: Lobb, D.K. (University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada), Kobrin, M.S, Kudlow, J.E, Dorrington, J.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI Society for the Study of Reproduction 01.05.1989
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibody Specificity; ANTICORPS MONOCLONAL; ANTICUERPOS MONOCLONALES; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle; CELL CULTURE; CELLS; Cells, Cultured; CELLULE; CELULAS; COWS; CRECIMIENTO; CROISSANCE; CULTIVO DE CELULAS; CULTURE DE CELLULES; DESARROLLO EMBRIONARIO; DEVELOPPEMENT EMBRYONNAIRE; EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; granulosa cells; Granulosa Cells - analysis; GROWTH; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Immunohistochemistry; Mammalian female genital system; MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES; Morphology. Physiology; OVAIRE; Ovarian Follicle - analysis; Ovarian Follicle - physiology; OVARIES; OVARIOS; Ovary - analysis; Theca Cells - analysis; Transforming Growth Factors - analysis; Transforming Growth Factors - physiology; VACA; VACHE; Vertebrates: reproduction; Immunohistochemistry; Cell culture; Peptides; Mitosis; Transforming growth factor; Ox; Immunoperoxidase technique; Ovary; Vertebrata; Optical microscopy; Mammalia; Female genital system; Development; Artiodactyla; Granulosa; Localization; Ovarian follicle; Ungulata
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod40.5.1087
• ISSN: 0006-3363

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.