Endocrine Abstracts

The role of the intra-ovarian insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in preantral follicle development is unclear. Here we have examined the expression of mRNA for insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), IGF-2, Type 1-IGF receptor, Type 2-IGF receptor and insulin receptor (IR) in human pre-antral follicles at different stages. Ovarian cortex biopsies (5mm3) were obtained (with informed consent) during gynaecological surgery from six women (age 32.2 plus/minus SD 2.2,...

Little is known about the factors affecting preantral follicle growth but we have recently shown that IGF-I stimulates growth of follicles in human cortical tissue in culture (Stubbs et al, Endocrine Abstracts 2003, 6, OC7). The aim of this study was to extend the study of the effects of IGF-I on follicle recruitment and test the specificity of action by examining the ability of the type 1 IGF receptor antibody, alpha-IR3, to inhibit IGF action. Small ovarian cortical biopsies...

Little is known about the factors affecting preantral follicle growth but we have recently shown that IGF-I stimulates growth of follicles in human cortical tissue in culture (Stubbs et al, Endocrine Abstracts 2003, 6, OC7). The aim of this study was to extend the study of the effects of IGF-I on follicle recruitment and test the specificity of action by examining the ability of the type 1 IGF receptor antibody, alpha-IR3, to inhibit IGF action. Small ovarian cortical biopsies...

Little is know about the effects of IGFs on the early preantral stages of follicle development. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of IGF-I on recruitment and survival of human preantral follicles in vitro. Small ovarian cortical biopsies were obtained at laparoscopy, with informed consent and local ethical committee approval, from 27 premenopausal women. The tissue was divided and randomly allocated to 5 conditions. The first piece was fixed immediately as a...

The factors affecting the regulation of early follicular development are not fully understood. Culture of ovarian cortical biopsies provides a means for investigating initiation of follicle growth. IGF-I has been implicated in the early development of follicles in the primate ovary and the aim of this study was to investigate the effects on IGF-I on recruitment, growth and survival of human preantral follicles. Small ovarian cortical biopsies were obtained, with informed conse...

An increased number of medium-sized antral follicles is one of the characteristic features of polycystic ovaries (PCO) but little is known of the preantral stages of follicle development. The aim of this work was to explore small preantral follicle development in ovulatory and anovulatory PCO and to compare it with that in normal ovaries. Small ovarian cortical biopsies were obtained with informed consent and local ethics committee approval from 27 women with PCO, 13 anovulato...

Early follicular development in polycystic ovaries (PCO) is abnormal; a higher proportion of follicles have entered the growing phase than in normal ovaries [1]. IGF-I stimulates the initiation of preantral follicle growth in a human tissue culture system using a growth factor-reduced extracellular matrix, Matrigel [2]. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of IGF-I on early preantral follicle development in polycystic and normal ovaries. Small ovarian cortical biop...

Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia are well-recognised characteristics of anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) but, paradoxically, steroidogenesis by PCOS granulosa cells remains responsive to insulin. The hypothesis to be tested in this study was that insulin resistance in the ovary is pathway-specific i.e. is confined to the metabolic effects of insulin (i.e. glucose uptake and metabolism) whereas its steroidogenic action remains intact. Granulosa-lu...