Angiogenesis and its hormonal control in the corpus luteum of the pregnant rat.
Beginning on Day 8 of pregnancy (Day 1 = sperm in vaginal smear), rats were injected i.p. with [3H] thymidine (TDR), killed 3 h later, and corpora lutea (CL) were dissected and saved for determining radioactivity in the acid-insoluble fraction or for autoradiography to determine labeling index (LI) of luteal and endothelial cells. An approximate doubling in DNA content in CL occurred between Days 13 and 14, with a high level maintained through Day 23. This was reflected in an abrupt increase in [3H] TDR incorporation on Day 13, with the peak reached on Day 14 and a subsequent decline to baseline values on Day 18. Autoradiography revealed that the LI of luteal endothelial cells rose from 2.1% on Day 12 to 10.0% on Day 14, and the LI of luteal cells correspondingly increased from 0.3% to 2.3%. Hypophysectomy (H) on Day 12 resulted, by Day 14, in no change in serum progesterone (P4) and TDR incorporation and LI of endothelial cells. However, after H and hysterectomy (HS) on Day 12, by Day 14, animals had low values for LI of endothelial and luteal cells, [3H] TDR incorporation and serum P4. After H + HS at Day 12, animals injected daily with estradiol cyclopentylpropionate (200 micrograms/day) on Days 12-14 had serum P4, [3H] TDR incorporation and LI of endothelial cells comparable to intact controls but not to luteal cells. However, similar treatment with testosterone cypionate (200 micrograms/day) or P4 (10 mg/day) did not maintain [3H] TDR incorporation or LI of either cell type, although serum P4 and estradiol levels were restored to normal values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000818:Animals; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008184:Luteal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D013739:Testosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology
D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; C007630:estradiol 17 beta-cypionate; D004247:DNA; C016131:testosterone 17 beta-cypionate