The normal human ovary part II: how steroid hormones work

Abstract We studied the cellular distribution of inhibin α, βA and βB mRNAs in the normal human ovary and in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) by in situ hybridization. Our results show that human granulosa cells express inhibin α, βA and βB subunit mRNAs, and theca cells express inhibin α and βA subunit mRNAs. The co-localization of α and βA mRNAs in theca cells supports the hypothesis that inhibin also has an autocrine function in these cells. We did not detect any inhibin subunit mRNA in the granulosa cells of atretic follicles, while theca cells also expressed α subunit mRNA in those follicles. The present findings suggest that the expression of inhibin subunits is regulated differently in human follicular granulosa and theca cells. It has been speculated that inhibin may be involved in the development of PCOS. Our results show that the cellular localization of inhibin subunit mRNAs is not disturbed in PCOS ovaries. Journal of Endocrinology (1994) 143, 127–137

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Immunohistochemical localization of interferon-γ in normal human ovary

Gynecological Endocrinology ◽

10.3109/09513599409072450 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 161-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

G. Grasso ◽

A. Asano ◽

T. Minagawa ◽

T. Tanaka ◽

S. Fujimoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Interferon Γ ◽

Immunohistochemical Localization ◽

Human Ovary ◽

Normal Human

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The molecular characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) ovary defined by human ovary cDNA microarray

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/jme.0.0330059 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 59-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

FY Diao ◽

M Xu ◽

Y Hu ◽

J Li ◽

Z Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ◽

Cdna Microarray ◽

Polycystic Ovary ◽

Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Molecular Characteristics ◽

Endocrine Disorders ◽

Human Ovary ◽

Ovary Syndrome ◽

Normal Human

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders; it is characterized by polycystic ovaries, hyperandrogenism and chronic anovulation. To obtain a global view of those genes that might be involved in the development of this complex clinical disorder, we used recently developed cDNA microarray technology to compare differential gene expressions between normal human ovary and ovaries from PCOS patients. A total of 9216 clones randomly selected from a commercial human ovary cDNA library were screened. Among them, 290 clones showed differential expressions, including 119 known genes and 100 known or unknown expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Among 119 known genes, 88 were upregulated and 31 downregulated in the PCOS ovary, as compared with normal human ovary. These differentially expressed genes are involved in various biologic functions, such as cell division/apoptosis, regulation of gene expression and metabolism, reflecting the complexity of clinical manifestations of PCOS. The molecular characteristics established from our study will further our understanding of the pathogenesis of PCOS and help us to identify new targets for further studies and for the development of new therapeutic interventions.

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