Clin Exp Reprod Med.  2011 Sep;38(3):135-141. 10.5653/cerm.2011.38.3.135.

Expression of SDF-1alpha and leptin, and their effect on expression of angiogenic factors in mouse ovaries

• Park MJ
• Park SH
• Lee SK
• Moon SE
• Moon HS
• Joo BS

• KMID: 1973529
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2011.38.3.135

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Ovarian angiogenesis plays an important role in folliculogenesis. However, little is known about the expression of angiogenic factors during follicular development according to female age. Stromal cell derived factor-1alpha (SDF-1alpha) plays a role in granulosa cell survival and embryo quality as an angiogenic chemokine. Leptin is also involved in folliculogenesis and angiogenesis. This study examined expression of SDF-1alpha and leptin, and their effects on the expression of angiogenic factors in the ovary during follicular development according to female age.
METHODS
Ovaries were collected from C57BL mice of two age groups (6-9 weeks and 24-26 weeks) at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after 5 IU pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) injection. The expression of ovarian SDF-1alpha and leptin mRNA was evaluated by RT-PCR. In the organ culture experiment, the ovaries were cultured in transwell permeable supports with Waymouth's medium treated with various doses of SDF-1alpha (50-200 ng/mL) or leptin (0.01-1 microg/mL) for 7 days. Then, mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and visfatin were examined in the cultured ovaries.
RESULTS
Expression of SDF-1alpha and leptin in the ovary was significantly lower in the aged mouse group compared to the young mouse group (p<0.05). Expression of these two factors increased with follicular development after PMSG administration. SDF-1alpha treatment stimulated visfatin expression in a dose-dependent manner, while leptin treatment significantly increased eNOS expression.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that decrease of ovarian SDF-1alpha and leptin expression may be associated with aging-related reduction of ovarian function. SDF-1alpha and leptin may play a role in follicular development by regulating the expression of angiogenic factors in mouse ovaries.

Keyword

Ovary; Angiogenesis; Aging; Stromal Cell Derived Factor-1 Alpha; Leptin; Mouse

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aging
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
Animals
Chemokine CXCL12
Embryonic Structures
Female
Gonadotropins
Granulosa Cells
Humans
Leptin
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
Organ Culture Techniques
Ovary
RNA, Messenger
Stromal Cells
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
Chemokine CXCL12
Gonadotropins
Leptin
Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
RNA, Messenger
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A