Regulation of Wilms' tumor gene expression by nerve growth factor and follicle-stimulating hormone in the immature mouse ovary

Abstract

This study investigated the regulation of Wilms' tumor gene (WT1) in the ovary by nerve growth factor and FSH to better understand signals that initiate early follicular growth. Nerve growth factor showed a direct stimulatory effect on endogenous expression of WT1, whereas FSH attenuated basal and nerve growth factor-stimulated WT1 protein expression, which most likely depended on FSH responsiveness according to the follicle growth stage.