Upon further examination of ovarian organ cultures, insulin and IGF reduced proliferation of granulosa cells, decreased Müllerian inhibiting substance expression, and altered collagen deposition, which were restored upon blockage of IR IGF1R function with tyrphostin AG1024. In summary, this study highlights the use of a 3D tissue culture system in demonstrating the dif ferential effects that insulin and IGF signaling have on the ovarian surface and follicles. Methods Animals CD1 mice were purchased from Harlan and experimental animals were acquired through in house breeding. Animals were treated in accordance with National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the established ani mal care and use protocol at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Animals were housed in a light and temperature controlled environment and provided food and water ad libitum. Organ culture Ovaries get more information from d16 female CD1 mouse pups were used for organ culture experiments. Ovaries were dissected and encapsulated in alginate as described previously. The alginate encapsulated organoids were cultured for 7d in basal medium composed of MEM, 100 U penicillin, and 100 ug ml strepto mycin. DMSO was added at a final concentration of 0. 01% as a solvent only negative control. Bovine insulin or recombinant human IGF I was added to cultures at a concentration of 5 ug ml. AG1024 was dissolved in DMSO and added at a final concentration of 10 uM. LY294002 was dissolved in DMSO and added at a final concentration of 25 uM. U0126 was dissolved in DMSO and added at a final concentration of 10 uM.

Media was changed every four days with fresh growth factors. RNA isolation and gene expression analysis Organoids were cultured for 3d in basal media, 5 ug ml in sulin, or 5 ug ml IGF I. OSE were collected by treatment with collagenase, mRNA was extracted, RNA was reverse transcribed using the RT2 selleckchem First Strand kit, and cDNA was added to RT2 Profiler PCR Cancer Pathway Finder Arrays according to manufacturers recommendations. Gene expression changes were analyzed on a Viia7 real time PCR detection system and normalized relative to the average expression of B actin, Gusb, Hprt, Hsp90ab1, and Gapdh according to manufacturers instructions. Immunohistochemistry Tissues were prepared for paraffin sectioning and immu nohistochemistry or hematoxylin and eosin staining was completed as described previously. Heat mediated antigen retrieval was performed in 0. 1M sodium citrate pH 6. 0, followed by blocking with 10% normal serum. Tis sue sections were incubated with the following primary antibodies overnight at 4 C, anti cytokeratin 8, anti BrdU, anti Müllerian inhibiting substance, anti phospho gl