Objective:To investigate the effect of recombinant insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on ovarian development in MEX3C knockout mice. Methods:Mice were randomly divided into four groups (6 mice in each group): wild type group, homozygous group, homozygous+IGF-1 treatment group, and treatment control group. The weight and wet ovarian weight of mice in each group was compared before and after IGF-1 injection. The serum levels of estradiol was determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The morphological structure of the ovary was observed by HE staining. The expression of MEX3C, IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), and the phosphorylation of AKT (Ser473)(p-AKT) were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Results:Before IGF-1 injection, the body weight of homozygote group [(6.33±0.31) g] was significantly lighter than that in wild type group [(15.20±0.35) g, P<0.001]. Serum estradiol level was significantly higher in homozygous+IGF-1 treatment group [(17.245 3±0.073 1) ng/L] than in treatment control group [(8.124 8±0.847 7) ng/L, P=0.001]. HE staining results showed that compared with the treatment control group, the primitive follicles (19.83±2.94) and primary follicles (15.50±2.69) were increased in homozygous+IGF-1 treatment group, while the atretic follicles (7.17±1.42) were decreased (all P<0.05). Western blotting results further confirmed that compared with the treatment control group, IGF-1R and p-AKT protein expressions were significantly decreased in homozygous+IGF-1 treatment group ( P=0.014 1, P=0.002 5). Conclusion:IGF-1 promotes ovarian follicular development in MEX3C knockout mice. The mechanism is related to the up-regulation of IGF-1R and P-AKT protein expression. IGF-1 can increase serum estrogen and promote follicular development.

Objective:To investigate the effect of recombinant insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on ovarian development in MEX3C knockout mice. Methods:Mice were randomly divided into four groups (6 mice in each group): wild type group, homozygous group, homozygous+IGF-1 treatment group, and treatment control group. The weight and wet ovarian weight of mice in each group was compared before and after IGF-1 injection. The serum levels of estradiol was determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The morphological structure of the ovary was observed by HE staining. The expression of MEX3C, IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), and the phosphorylation of AKT (Ser473)(p-AKT) were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.Results:Before IGF-1 injection, the body weight of homozygote group [(6.33±0.31) g] was significantly lighter than that in wild type group [(15.20±0.35) g, P<0.001]. Serum estradiol level was significantly higher in homozygous+IGF-1 treatment group [(17.245 3±0.073 1) ng/L] than in treatment control group [(8.124 8±0.847 7) ng/L, P=0.001]. HE staining results showed that compared with the treatment control group, the primitive follicles (19.83±2.94) and primary follicles (15.50±2.69) were increased in homozygous+IGF-1 treatment group, while the atretic follicles (7.17±1.42) were decreased (all P<0.05). Western blotting results further confirmed that compared with the treatment control group, IGF-1R and p-AKT protein expressions were significantly decreased in homozygous+IGF-1 treatment group ( P=0.014 1, P=0.002 5). Conclusion:IGF-1 promotes ovarian follicular development in MEX3C knockout mice. The mechanism is related to the up-regulation of IGF-1R and P-AKT protein expression. IGF-1 can increase serum estrogen and promote follicular development.