ABSTRACT
The ovary is an example of a developing tissue in which developmental prosses occur throughout reproductive life. We investigate the expression of GSK-3 beta and beta-catenin-Wnt pathway molecules-in the rat ovary during follicular development. To induce follicular growth and development, 23 days old immature female rats were injected with 10 IU of PMSG. Forty and forty-eight hours after stimulation with PMSG, the sera was collected for hormone assay, and the ovary were dissected and prepared for immunohistochemistry[IHC[and western blot[WB]. Our IHC and WB analysis showed that the expression of pGSK-3 beta and active beta-catenin was increased in PMSG primed rats in compared to those of intact groups. However, the total GSK-3 beta and beta-catenin proteins remain unchanged. The results indicate this idea that gonadotropin [PMSG], stabilized beta-catenin in GSK-3 beta independent manner in the rat ovary during the follicular development