Human First Trimester Fetal Ovaries Express Oncofetal Antigens and Steroid Receptors

Objective:To document the expression of oncofetal antigens and steroid receptors in first trimester human fetal ovaries and to determine the effect of advancing gestation on expression patterns.Methods:Fetal gonads were collected from surgical tenninations of pregnancy, and fetal sex was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Immunocytochemical analysis was performed on paraffin sections of microdissected fetal ovaries using antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), hCG, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), CA 125, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in 12 first trimester human fetal ovaries. Expression was quantified objectively by measuring percentage area of immunoreactivity (PAI) on whole sections of the ovary using an interactive image analysis system. Two pathologists, blinded to the antibodies used, independently viewed and scored all sections.Results:PLAP, PR, ER and CEA were expressed in all 12 ovaries (31%, 28%, 21%, and 16% mean PAI, r...