LOCALIZATION OF INHIBIN ACTIVIN SUBUNIT MESSENGER-RNAS WITHIN THE PRIMATE OVARY

In order to gain further understanding of the physiology of inhibin and activin in the primate, the expression of inhibin/activin subunit mRNAs in the monkey ovary was examined by in situ hybridization. Granulosa cells of small antral follicles were found to express mRNA for the βB subunit, which decreased to undetectable levels in dominant follicles. In contrast, expression of α and βA subunit mRNAs was detected in granulosa cells of dominant follicles and in corpora lutea, but not in small antral follicles. These results indicate that the expression of the βA and βB subunits is differentially regulated during the growth and development of ovarian follicles in the monkey. © 1990 by The Endocrine Society.