title: Ovarian follicle vascularization in fasted pig.
abstract: The authors have investigated in the different classes of ovarian follicles the vascular area, the blood vessel distribution, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression and the VEGF secretion during equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) induced follicle growth in prepubertal gilts fed ad libitum or fasted. Immunohistochemistry staining of Von Willebrand factor showed that fasting caused a dramatic increase in the vascular area of medium-large tertiary follicles. The increase involved the two concentric vessel networks and the area between them that, becoming crossed by several anastomosis, modified the whole vessel architecture. Both in situ hybridization and in vitro culture experiments demonstrate that granulosa cells from medium-large follicles are engaged in a copious VEGF production upon eCG stimulation both in gilts fed ad libitum or fasted. More surprisingly, the production of VEGF becomes diffuse amongst theca cells of fasted animals thus recruiting a compartment that in condition of normal feeding regimen appears nearly quiescent. In conclusion, the data presented describe a local angiogenic process that develops in the follicle wall of growing antral follicle in case of acute severe food restriction. The mechanism, essentially confined to follicles that potentially approach ovulation, appears to assume the meaning of a local compensatory mechanism that may help maintaining adequate nutrient delivery to follicles that undergo ovulation.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche Comparate, Fisiologia Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Teramo, 64100, Italy. barboni@ifv.vet.unite.it
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barboni
authors.forename: Barboni
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barbara
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Martelli
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alessandra
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berardinelli
authors.forename: Berardinelli
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Paolo
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Russo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valentina
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turriani
authors.forename: Turriani
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maura
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bernabò
authors.forename: Bernabò
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nicola
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lucidi
authors.forename: Lucidi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pia
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: Mattioli
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mauro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014841:von Willebrand Factor