Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in the oocyte and somatic cells of bovine preantral follicles

Many studies have highlighted the role of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in the control of antral follicular growth. However, much less is known about the involvement of the IGF system in the regulation of preantral follicular development. In an attempt to address this lack of knowledge, the present study describes the spatial and temporal patterns of expression of mRNA encoding components of the IGF system in bovine follicles during preantral stages of development. mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization using frozen sections (14 microm) of bovine ovarian tissue. Serial sections were probed with 35S-labelled bovine riboprobes. Type 1 IGF receptor mRNA was detected in granulosa cells and in the oocyte of preantral follicles; however, in this study, as in previous studies, it was not possible to detect mRNA encoding either IGF-I or -II. IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-2 mRNA was present in granulosa cells and oocytes of preantral follicles, and immunoreactive IGFBP-2 was detected around granulosa cells during this early stage of development. Occasionally, preantral follicles were identified in which there was no expression of IGFBP-2 in granulosa cells or the oocyte. IGFBP-3 mRNA was detected in the oocyte of preantral follicles and in the surrounding stromal tissue. mRNAs encoding IGFBP-2 and -3, and type 1 IGF receptor were first detected in type 2 follicles. In conclusion, although the IGF ligands are not expressed in preantral follicles, mRNAs encoding the type 1 IGF receptor, and IGFBP-2 and -3 were present and showed unique spatial patterns of expression within preantral follicles.