Biomaterial Database

Insulin-like growth factor family in Graafian follicle development and function. 2001

L C Giudice

Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Center for Research on Women's Health and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California 94305-5317, USA. giudice@stanford.edu

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family plays an important role in follicle development, dominant follicle growth and steroidogenesis, and follicular atresia. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II is the primary IGF in human ovary, acting as a mediator of gonadotropin action. IGF-II stimulates granulosa steroidogenesis, and its actions, along with those of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), are inhibited by IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-4. At the time of follicle selection, in the estrogen-dominant follicle, granulosa IGF-II synthesis increases dramatically. Simultaneously, in the selected follicle, IGFBP-4, an inhibitor of IGF-II action and abundant within androgen-dominant follicles, is proteolyzed by a specific IGFBP-4 protease, resulting in decreased affinity of IGFBP-4 for IGF-II. The IGFBP-4 protease has recently been identified in human ovary as pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A). In the Graafian follicle, IGF-II bioavailability is increased to act as a mediator of FSH action, by increased synthesis of this peptide and concomitant decrease in an inhibitor of its actions by proteolysis of IGFBP-4.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007334	Insulin-Like Growth Factor I	A well-characterized basic peptide believed to be secreted by the liver and to circulate in the blood. It has growth-regulating, insulin-like, and mitogenic activities. This growth factor has a major, but not absolute, dependence on GROWTH HORMONE. It is believed to be mainly active in adults in contrast to INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR II, which is a major fetal growth factor.	IGF-I,Somatomedin C,IGF-1,IGF-I-SmC,Insulin Like Growth Factor I,Insulin-Like Somatomedin Peptide I,Insulin Like Somatomedin Peptide I
D007335	Insulin-Like Growth Factor II	A well-characterized neutral peptide believed to be secreted by the LIVER and to circulate in the BLOOD. It has growth-regulating, insulin-like and mitogenic activities. The growth factor has a major, but not absolute, dependence on SOMATOTROPIN. It is believed to be a major fetal growth factor in contrast to INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR I, which is a major growth factor in adults.	IGF-II,Multiplication-Stimulating Activity,Somatomedin MSA,IGF-2,Insulin Like Growth Factor II,Insulin-Like Somatomedin Peptide II,Multiplication-Stimulating Factor,Somatomedin A,Factor, Multiplication-Stimulating,Insulin Like Somatomedin Peptide II,Multiplication Stimulating Activity,Multiplication Stimulating Factor
D010053	Ovary	The reproductive organ (GONADS) in female animals. In vertebrates, the ovary contains two functional parts: the OVARIAN FOLLICLE for the production of female germ cells (OOGENESIS); and the endocrine cells (GRANULOSA CELLS; THECA CELLS; and LUTEAL CELLS) for the production of ESTROGENS and PROGESTERONE.	Ovaries
D005260	Female		Females
D006080	Ovarian Follicle	An OOCYTE-containing structure in the cortex of the OVARY. The oocyte is enclosed by a layer of GRANULOSA CELLS providing a nourishing microenvironment (FOLLICULAR FLUID). The number and size of follicles vary depending on the age and reproductive state of the female. The growing follicles are divided into five stages: primary, secondary, tertiary, Graafian, and atretic. Follicular growth and steroidogenesis depend on the presence of GONADOTROPINS.	Graafian Follicle,Atretic Follicle,Ovarian Follicles,Atretic Follicles,Follicle, Atretic,Follicle, Graafian,Follicle, Ovarian,Follicles, Atretic,Follicles, Graafian,Follicles, Ovarian,Graafian Follicles
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013002	Somatomedins	Insulin-like polypeptides made by the liver and some fibroblasts and released into the blood when stimulated by SOMATOTROPIN. They cause sulfate incorporation into collagen, RNA, and DNA synthesis, which are prerequisites to cell division and growth of the organism.	Sulfation Factor,Somatomedin,Factor, Sulfation
D015571	Follicular Fluid	The fluid surrounding the OVUM and GRANULOSA CELLS in the Graafian follicle (OVARIAN FOLLICLE). The follicular fluid contains sex steroids, glycoprotein hormones, plasma proteins, mucopolysaccharides, and enzymes.	Antral Fluid, Ovarian Follicle,Liquor Folliculi,Fluid, Follicular,Follicular Fluids,Folliculi, Liquor
D015870	Gene Expression	The phenotypic manifestation of a gene or genes by the processes of GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION and GENETIC TRANSLATION.	Expression, Gene,Expressions, Gene,Gene Expressions