Abstract
Stem cell factor (SCF), a pleiotropic glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 25–36 kd, is a ligand for the tyrosine kinase receptor encoded by the c-kit protooncogene. The SCF and c-kit are essential for germ cell development, melanogenesis, and hematopoiesis. Although several lines of evidence in experimental animals suggest that SCF and c-kit may also play essential roles in human ovaries, little information is available. We previously reported that c-kit receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) was expressed in human oocytes (1). In the present study, we examined the expressions of SCF, a ligand for c-kit, in human oocytes, granulosa, theca, and ovarian stromal cells. We also investigated the relationship between SCF and steroid hormone concentrations in follicular fluid.
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