IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF GROWTH-FACTORS AND THEIR RECEPTORSIN HUMAN PREEMBRYOS AND FALLOPIAN-TUBES

We utilized indirect immunocytochemistry to demonstrate the presence o f growth factors and their receptors in human pre-embryos and Fallopia n tubes, In pre-embryos, only transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-al pha) and the intracellular domain of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were found at the 4-cell stage, In 8- to 14-cell pre-embryos, T GF-alpha, the intracellular and extracellular domains of EGFR, and ins ulin-like growth factor-I and its receptor were found, Antibodies agai nst TGF-alpha stained all Fallopian tube specimens, while the extracel lular domain of EGFR was only found in specimens from patients with ei ther blood type A or AB, These results suggest a cross-reactivity betw een the extracellular domain of the EGFR and blood group antigens, Our novel demonstration of growth factor receptor staining in human pre-e mbryos shows that growth factor receptor localization is dependent on the developmental stage of human pre-embryos, We have also established a potentially important link between the Fallopian tube which secrete s growth factors and the localization of growth factor receptors in pr e-embryos, These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that tuba l secretions are embryotrophic for the early development of the pre-em bryo.