Abstract
The role of endothelial cell-specific growth factors in the vascularization of the primate peri-ovulatory follicle was examined. Experiments were designed firstly to detect expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in granulosa cells and secondly, to determine whether gonadotrophins and/or steroids regulate their expression during the peri-ovulatory interval. Granulosa cells and follicular fluid were collected from rhesus macaques undergoing ovarian stimulation before (0 h), 12, or 36 h after a bolus of ovulatory human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), with or without steroid ablation and progestin replacement. VEGF, Ang-1 and Ang-2 mRNA were all detected prior to the ovulatory stimulus. Whereas follicular fluid VEGF concentrations increased 6-fold (P < 0.05) between 0 and 12 h, VEGF mRNA values were unchanged and were unaffected by steroid ablation. Ang-1 mRNA decreased from 0 to 12 h (P< 0.05), followed by a 30-fold increase (P < 0.05) at 36 h, while Ang-2 mRNA values were unchanged between 0, 12 and 36 h. Steroid ablation decreased (P < 0.05) Ang-1 mRNA at 36 h, and Ang-2 mRNA at 12 h, while only Ang- 1 was restored by progestin replacement. These data suggest a dynamic expression of vascular-specific growth factors in a gonadotrophin-dependent, steroid-independent (VEGF) or steroid- dependent (Ang-1) manner in granulosa cells of peri-ovulatory follicles of primates.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1115-1121 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Molecular Human Reproduction |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1999 |
Keywords
- Angiopoietin-1
- Angiopoietin-2
- Granulosa cells
- VEGF
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Reproductive Medicine
- Embryology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology