Growth/differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9)은 transforming growth factor (TGF-) superfamily의 member로서 난소의 난자에서만 특이적으로 발현되며 정상적인 난포발달에 있어 필수적인 성숙인자로 최근에 알려졌다. 본 연구는 RT-PCR을 통해 생쥐의 원시난포에서의 GDF-9 mRNA의 발현 여부와 함께 난포의 발달단계에 따른 상대적인 발현량을 분석하고자 실시하였다. 본 실험에는 ICR 생쥐를
Growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) is a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF-) superfamily. It has been known that GDF-9 is a growth factor having a crucial role in normal folliculogenesis and its expression is oocyte-specific. The present study was aimed to elucidate the expression of GDF-9 mRNA in the mouse primordial follicles as well as in the other developmental stages. The semiquantitative analysis of GDF-9 mRNA expression was conducted. Total RNA was extracted from the ICR mice ovaries at gestational day 19, postnatal day 1, day 10, day 21, and day 28, and RT-PCR was performed to measure GDF-9 and -actin mRNA levels. Level of GDF-9 mRNA were normalized against the level of -actin mRNA, and compared among different stages. GDF-9 mRNA was detected in all samples including the fetal ovaries that mainly consists of primordial follicles. The highest level of mRNA was observed in ovaries obtained at day 10 that mainly consists of growing follicles. The present result suggests that GDF-9 may play an important role in the early stage of folliculogenesis.