Fibroblast growth factor 10 in human ovaries

Abstract The expression of fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF-10) has not been studied in human ovarian cortical follicles. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of FGF-10 in preantral follicles from fetuses, girls and women. Ovarian samples were obtained from 14 human fetuses at 21–33 gestational weeks and from 35 girls and women aged 5–39years. The specimens were prepared for detection of the FGF-10 protein by immunohistochemistry. Reverse-transcription PCR was applied to ovarian extracts to identify FGF-10 mRNA transcripts. In fetal tissue, the FGF-10 protein was detected in oocytes in 50% of the samples and in granulosa cells in 30%. In ovarian tissue from girls and women, the FGF-10 protein was detected in oocytes and granulosa cells in all samples. FGF-10 mRNA transcripts were present in all adult and fetal samples tested. The identification of FGF-10 at both the protein and mRNA levels suggests that FGF-10 may contribute to human preantral follicle development. Very early ovarian follicles (cellular structures that contain immature eggs) are the lifetime fertility reserve in females. Researchers are seeking further understanding of the growth signals that initiate their formation in order to develop a medically safe method for restoring fertility in cancer survivors. There is some evidence that fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF-10) might serve as one of the triggers of ovarian follicular growth. The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of FGF-10 at both the protein and gene levels in ovaries from fetuses, girls and women. The tissue was obtained during ovarian operations or legal pregnancy termination, mainly because of fetal abnormalities, and donated by women and parents of minors. Our results revealed the presence of the FGF-10 protein in very immature follicles, both in the egg and its surrounding supporting cells. Expression was stronger and more abundant in the samples from girls and women. FGF-10 gene expression was identified in all ovaries. Our findings suggest that FGF-10 probably contributes to the interplay among various growth factors involved in the initial follicular development stages in humans.