Prokineticin Ligands and Receptors Are Expressed in the Human Fetal Ovary and Regulate Germ Cell Expression of COX2

Context: Fetal ovarian development and primordial follicle formation underpin future female fertility. Prokineticin (PROK) ligands regulate cell survival, proliferation, and angiogenesis in adult reproductive tissues including the ovary. However, their expression and function during fetal ovarian development remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to investigate expression and localization of the PROK ligands, receptors, and their downstream transcriptional targets in the human fetal ovary. Setting: This study was conducted at the University of Edinburgh. Participants: Ovaries were collected from 37 morphologically normal human fetuses. Design and Main Outcome Measures: mRNA and protein expression of PROK ligands and receptors was determined in human fetal ovaries using qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry. Functional studies were performed using a human germ cell tumor line (TCam-2) stably transfected with Prokineticin receptor 1 (PROKR1). Results: Expression of PROK1 and PROKR1 was sig...