Objective: To determine whether DAZL1 is expressed in human fetal ovarian tissue.
Design: The presence of DAZL1 expression was determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Setting: Academic tertiary care medical center and research unit of university.
Patient(s): Five female abortuses between the 19th and 22nd week of gestational age.
Intervention(s): Fetal ovarian tissues were collected immediately after the cessation of the heart beat.
Main outcome measure(s): The product of RT-PCR.
Result(s): DAZL1 expression was detected in all five samples.
Conclusion(s): DAZL1 is not only expressed in human testes but also in ovaries. It may play a role in germ cell survival and gonad development in both sexes.