Localization of inhibin/activin subunit mRNAs within the primate ovary.

In order to gain further understanding of the physiology of inhibin and activin in the primate, the expression of inhibin/activin subunit mRNAs in the monkey ovary was examined by in situ hybridization. Granulosa cells of small antral follicles were found to express mRNA for the beta B subunit, which decreased to undetectable levels in dominant follicles. In contrast, expression of alpha and beta A subunit mRNAs was detected in granulosa cells of dominant follicles and in corpora lutea, but not in small antral follicles. These results indicate that the expression of the beta A and beta B subunits is differentially regulated during the growth and development of ovarian follicles in the monkey.