Immunocytochemical detection and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction expression of oncostatin M (OSM) and its receptor (OSM-Rβ) in human fetal and adult ovaries

ObjectiveTo investigate the immunocytochemical expression and presence of mRNA transcripts of oncostatin M (OSM) and its exclusive receptor (OSM-Rβ) in ovaries from human adults and fetuses.DesignImmunocytochemical and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) study.SettingMajor tertiary care and referral academic centers.Patient(s)Ten women and girls undergoing laparoscopic ovarian biopsy and 30 women undergoing second-trimester and third-trimester pregnancy terminations.Intervention(s)None.Main Outcome Measure(s)Microscopic morphometric analysis, immunocytochemistry for OSM and OSM-Rβ, and RT-PCR analyses.Result(s)There was strong to moderate immunocytochemical staining for OSM in both oocytes and granulosa cells of follicles from primordial stages onwards in ovaries from both fetuses and adults/adolescents. OSM-Rβ was detected mainly in the oocytes. Transcripts of OSM and OSM-Rβ RNA were detected by RT-PCR analyses.Conclusion(s)The expression of OSM and its receptor in ovarian tissue from fetuses and women suggests a possible role of OSM in growth initiation of human primordial follicles. To investigate the immunocytochemical expression and presence of mRNA transcripts of oncostatin M (OSM) and its exclusive receptor (OSM-Rβ) in ovaries from human adults and fetuses. Immunocytochemical and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) study. Major tertiary care and referral academic centers. Ten women and girls undergoing laparoscopic ovarian biopsy and 30 women undergoing second-trimester and third-trimester pregnancy terminations. None. Microscopic morphometric analysis, immunocytochemistry for OSM and OSM-Rβ, and RT-PCR analyses. There was strong to moderate immunocytochemical staining for OSM in both oocytes and granulosa cells of follicles from primordial stages onwards in ovaries from both fetuses and adults/adolescents. OSM-Rβ was detected mainly in the oocytes. Transcripts of OSM and OSM-Rβ RNA were detected by RT-PCR analyses. The expression of OSM and its receptor in ovarian tissue from fetuses and women suggests a possible role of OSM in growth initiation of human primordial follicles.