Expression of stem cell factor and its receptor in human fetal and adult ovaries.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the immunocytochemical expression and presence of mRNA transcripts of stem cell factor (SCF) and its receptor (SCF-R) in ovaries from human adults and fetuses.

DESIGN

Immunocytochemical and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) study.

SETTING

Major tertiary care and referral academic centers.

PATIENT(S): Seven women and girls undergoing laparoscopic ovarian biopsy and 13 women undergoing second and third trimester pregnancy terminations.

INTERVENTION(S): None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Microscopic morphometric analysis, immunocytochemistry for SCF and SCF-R, and RT-PCR analyses.

RESULT(S): There was strong to moderate immunocytochemical staining for SCF and its receptor in oocytes from primordial stages onward, but not in granulosa cells, in both fetal and adult ovarian samples. Transcripts of SCF and SCF-R RNA were detected by RT-PCR analyses for SCF and SCF-R.

CONCLUSION(S): The expression of SCF and its receptor in ovarian tissue from fetuses and women suggests a possible role of SCF in growth initiation of human primordial follicles.