Immunolocalization of transforming growth factor-β1 during follicular development and atresia in the mouse ovary

In each estrous cycle not all follicles recruited grow to ovulate, as some degenerate through the process of atresia. Apoptosis is the mechanism underlying follicle atresia. TGF-beta 1 has been implicated in the induction and promotion of apoptosis in many cell types and it is expressed in the ovary. In this study immunohistochemistry was used to localize TGF-beta 1 in order to correlate the growth factor expression with morphological follicular atresia during diestrus in mice. Small and medium sized follicles had no staining for TGF-beta 1 in the granulosa or theca cell layer. Weak to moderate TGF-beta 1 expression was present in the theca cells of both large healthy and atretic antral follicles. Large healthy antral follicles showed weak granulosa staining but this was mot observed in atretic follicles. Strong TGF-beta 1 staining was present in the interstitial, corpus luteum and oocytes of all follicle stages. These results suggest that in the mouse TGF-beta 1 promote follicular growth and differentiation rather than follicular atresia.