Yonsei Med J.  2005 Oct;46(5):679-686. 10.3349/ymj.2005.46.5.679.

The Regulators of VEGF Expression in Mouse Ovaries

• Shin SY
• Lee HJ
• Ko DS
• Lee HC
• Park WI

• KMID: 2158149
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2005.46.5.679

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to explore whether ovarian vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in mice can be regulated by IL-6 (interleukin-6), angiotensin II, FSH, and hCG; and to test whether the mouse ovarian VEGF expression can result in angiogenesis. The ICR mice were sacrificed, and their ovaries were recovered. Recovered ovaries were treated with IL-6, angiotensin II, FSH, and hCG separately and incubated for 24 hours in alpha-MEM. Expression of mRNA and protein of VEGF were assessed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The resulting angiogenesis was evaluated through immunohistochemical analysis for CD34. Treatment of mice ovaries with IL-6, FSH, and hCG resulted in a significant increase of VEGF mRNA, and IL-6 was the most potent inducer of VEGF. IL-6 and FSH resulted in increased neovascularization in the follicular phase of mouse ovaries. In contrast, angiotensin II could not increase VEGF expression or neovascularization. We documented an in vitro increase in VEGF expression by IL-6, FSH, and hCG; and reaffirmed that the proliferative response of murine ovarian endothelial cells paralleled an increase of VEGF expression.

Keyword

Angiogenesis inducing agents; follicle stimulating hormone; interleukin-6; ovary; vascular endothelial growth factors

MeSH Terms

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/analysis/*genetics
RNA, Messenger/analysis
Ovary/*metabolism
Mice, Inbred ICR
Mice
Interleukin-6/pharmacology
Immunohistochemistry
Gene Expression Regulation/*drug effects
Follicle Stimulating Hormone/pharmacology
Female
Chorionic Gonadotropin/pharmacology
Antigens, CD34/analysis
Animals

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The values on the Y-axis represent mean values of the ratio between VEGF and actin. *p = 0.012 §p = 0.036 †p = 0.009 ∥p = 0.015 ‡p = 0.023 ¶p = 0.054.

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  Fig. 2 The semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis of the gene expressions of the specific VEGF isoforms were normalized with the expression of the housekeeping gene, β-actin. M: Molecular weight marker, Cont: control, IL-6: interleukin-6, FSH: Follicle stimulating hormone, hCG: Human chorionic gonadotrophin, Ang II: Angiotnesin II.

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  Fig. 3 (A) Immunohistochemical staining showing VEGF expression of a mouse ovary. (B) VEGF expression in a mouse ovary treated with IL-6. (C) VEGF expression in a mouse ovary treated with FSH. (D) VEGF expression in a mouse ovary treated with hCG. (E) VEGF expression in a mouse ovary treated with Angiotensin II.

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  Fig. 4 (A) Immunohistochemical staining showing CD 34 of a mouse ovary. (B) CD34 expression in a mouse ovary treated with IL-6. (C) CD34 expression in a mouse ovary treated with FSH. (D) CD34 expression in a mouse ovary treated with hCG. (E) CD34 expression in a mouse ovary treated with Angiotensin II.

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