Direct injection of vascular endothelial growth factor into the ovary of mice promotes follicular development.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of an ovarian injection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on antral follicle development, neoangiogenesis, and apoptosis.


METHODS
Controlled laboratory study.


METHODS
University-affiliated fertility center.


METHODS
Balb/c female mice (n = 32) were studied.


METHODS
Mice were divided into four groups: control group (C) n = 6, no treatment; hyperstimulated group (HS), n = 8, ovaries were stimulated with 7.5 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and 10 IU of hCG; VEGF group (V), n = 8, injected with 0.1 mL of VEGF (0.2 microg) in each ovary; V+HS, n = 8 injected with VEGF and 2 weeks later hyperstimulated.


METHODS
Number of antral and luteinized follicles, number of vessels, and percentage of Bcl-2-positive cells.


RESULTS
The number of antral follicles with VEGF was higher than in the C and HS groups (16.0 +/- 2.5 vs. 6.0 +/- 0.9 and 11.3 +/- 0.6, respectively, p<0.005). All treatments significantly increased the number of vessels (C: 5.0 +/- 0.5 vs. V: 20.0 +/- 4.8, p<0.005 and V+HS: 22.2 +/- 1.2, p<0.01), as well as increased Bcl-2-positive cells compared to controls (C: 0; V: 11.8 +/- 3.5, p<0.005; V+HS: 12.5 +/- 3.7, p<0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrated that a direct injection of VEGF into the mouse ovary results in the development of an enhanced vascular network promoting follicular development and diminishing apoptosis.
Quintana
Ramiro
R
Instituto de Ginecología y Fertilidad (IFER), Buenos Aires, Argentina. ifer@velocom.com.ar
Kopcow
Laura
L
Sueldo
Carlos
C
Marconi
Guillermo
G
Rueda
Nidia Gomez
NG
Barañao
Rosa Inés
RI
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A