The mechanisms responsible for reproductive abnormalities in transgenic female mice overexpressing human IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) in the liver have been investigated. At 2 months of age, none of these transgenic mice exhibited ovarian cyclicity. Genital tract and ovary tissue weights were reduced in transgenic mice, this weight reduction being disproportionate with the reduction of body weight. Examination of ovarian follicular population revealed a marked decrease in the number of corpora lutea and gonadotropin-dependent follicles, suggesting an alteration of terminal follicular growth and ovulation. Stimulation of ovaries by exogenous gonadotropins revealed that ovaries from transgenic mice ovulated less oocytes than nontransgenic mice. This lower responsiveness of ovaries from transgenic mice to gonadotropins was not associated with a decrease in FSH-, LH- or IGF-I receptor expression. Transgenic and nontransgenic mice have similar circulating LH and FSH concentrations at dioestrus, after castration, 46 h after equine CG administration, or 15 min after GnRH injection. However, LH concentrations were 8-fold higher in pituitaries from transgenic vs. nontransgenic mice. Moreover, the size of LH-immunoreactive cells was reduced and their number was increased, suggesting a subtle alteration of LH secretion. Overall, these data indicate that reduced fertility in transgenic female mice overexpressing human IGFBP-1 are mainly due to an alteration of terminal follicular growth leading to a decrease in natural and induced ovulation rate, likely due to an impairment of IGF-I action on follicular cells. Increased circulating IGFBP-1 concentrations may additionally lead to altered GnRH and LH pulsatility and thereby exacerbate the ovulation defect.