Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1): a multifunctional role in the human female reproductive tract

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGFBP-1) is particularly important in human f emale reproductive physiology, where it is involved with other factors in a complex system which regulates menstrual cycles, puberty, ovulation, decid ualization, implantation and fetal growth. This has implications for clinic al obstetrics and gynaecology, where there is evidence for a pathophysiolog ical role for IGPBP-1 in pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, po lycystic ovarian syndrome and trophoblast and endometrial neoplasms.