Evidence for the presence of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) in human ovarian follicles

The presence of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) in human follicular fluid (FF) was investigated in a total of 145 FFs obtained during oocyte retrieva l for in vitro fertilization (IVF) from 29 patients with no apparent endocr ine disorders. The concentrations of KGF, estradiol, progesterone, testoste rone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in FF were measured by enzyme-l inked immunosorbent assay. FF samples contained relatively higher amounts o f KGF (2194+/-87 pg/ml), whereas its concentrations in serum were below ass ay limit (<31.2 pg/ml). Concentrations of KGF in FF were positively correla ted with both progesterone (r = 0.311, p < 0.0005) and testosterone (r=0.23 0, p<0.01) concentrations in FF. However, KGF concentrations were not signi ficantly correlated with estradiol and hCG concentrations. KGF in FF was de tected as a broad band (26<similar to>29 kD) by immunoblotting, the size be ing reduced by 7kD after N-glycosidase treatment. In an in vitro experiment , KGF suppressed the basal and hCG-stimulated progesterone production by cu ltured human luteinized granulosa cells. In summary, we demonstrated the pr esence of KGF in human ovarian follicles, suggesting its possible role as a local factor in regulating human ovarian functions.