Hormonal Regulation and Tissue-Specific Localization of α2-Macroglobulin in Rat Ovarian Follicles and Corpora Lutea*

alpha 2-Macroglobulin (alpha 2M) is a broad spectrum protease inhibitor associated with inflammatory responses and proposed to be important in tissue remodeling. alpha 2 M also functions as a carrier of specific growth factors and cytokines, including platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta, basic fibroblast growth factor, interleukin-1, interleukin-6. To determine whether alpha 2M is associated with remodeling phenomena …