Effect of Antiprogesterone RU486 on VEGF Expression and Blood Vessel Remodeling on Ovarian Follicles before Ovulation
| Autor: | Nicola Bernabò, Valentina Russo, Mauro Mattioli, Annunziata Mauro, Alessandra Martelli, Barbara Barboni, Oriana Di Giacinto, Paolo Berardinelli |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2014 |
| Předmět: |
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Physiology Angiogenesis Sus scrofa lcsh:Medicine Biochemistry chemistry.chemical_compound Ovarian Follicle Reproductive Physiology Nucleic Acids Molecular Cell Biology Follicular phase lcsh:Science Progesterone media_common Multidisciplinary Immunochemistry Vascular endothelial growth factor Mifepristone medicine.anatomical_structure Organ Specificity Theca Female Anatomy Corpus luteum Blood vessel remodeling hormones hormone substitutes and hormone antagonists Research Article Ovulation endocrine system medicine.medical_specialty Histology Animal Types media_common.quotation_subject Immunology Neovascularization Physiologic Endocrine System Large Animals Biology Hormone Antagonists Corpus Luteum Internal medicine von Willebrand Factor Animal Genital Anatomy medicine Reproductive Endocrinology Animals RNA Messenger RNA synthesis Ovarian follicle Cell Proliferation Biology and life sciences Endocrine Physiology lcsh:R Reproductive System Veterinary Anatomy Endothelial Cells Cell Biology Endocrinology chemistry RNA Veterinary Science lcsh:Q Endothelium Vascular |
| Zdroj: | PLoS ONE, Vol 9, Iss 4, p e95910 (2014) PLoS ONE |
| Popis: | Background The success of ovarian follicle growth and ovulation is strictly related to the development of an adequate blood vessel network required to sustain the proliferative and endocrine functions of the follicular cells. Even if the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) drives angiogenesis before ovulation, the local role exerted by Progesterone (P4) remains to be clarified, in particular when its concentration rapidly increases before ovulation. Aim This in vivo study was designed to clarify the effect promoted by a P4 receptor antagonist, RU486, on VEGF expression and follicular angiogenesis before ovulation, in particular, during the transition from pre to periovulatory follicles induced by human Chorionic Gonadotropins (hCG) administration. Material and Methods Preovulatory follicle growth and ovulation were pharmacologically induced in prepubertal gilts by combining equine Chorionic Gonadotropins (eCG) and hCG used in the presence or absence of RU486. The effects on VEGF expression were analyzed using biochemical and immunohistochemical studies, either on granulosa or on theca layers of follicles isolated few hours before ovulation. This angiogenic factor was also correlated to follicular morphology and to blood vessels architecture. Results and Conclusions VEGF production, blood vessel network and follicle remodeling were impaired by RU486 treatment, even if the cause-effect correlation remains to be clarified. The P4 antagonist strongly down-regulated theca VEGF expression, thus, preventing most of the angiogenic follicle response induced by hCG. RU486-treated follicles displayed a reduced vascular area, a lower rate of endothelial cell proliferation and a reduced recruitment of perivascular mural cells. These data provide important insights on the biological role of RU486 and, indirectly, on steroid hormones during periovulatory follicular phase. In addition, an in vivo model is proposed to evaluate how periovulatory follicular angiogenesis may affect the functionality of the corpus luteum (CL) and the success of pregnancy. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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