Ovarian vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor patterns in reproductive aging.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate how levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor (VEGFR) change during corpus luteum formation in reproductive aging.


METHODS
Adult and reproductive aging female rats were given pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and the ovaries and sera were collected at 0, 3, 5, and 7 days after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection.


METHODS
Laboratory study.


METHODS
Animal model.


METHODS
Induction of corpus luteum formation with PMSG-hCG.


METHODS
Western blot analysis for ovarian VEGF, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and hypoxia-induced factor 1 (HIF1-alpha). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measurement of serum VEGF levels.


RESULTS
For VEGF and VEGFR-1, there was no difference between the adult and the reproductive aging ovaries. For total VEGFR-2 levels, the adult ovaries had a decline during corpus luteum formation. In contrast, the levels of the two forms of phosphorylated VEGFR-2 declined in aging ovaries. There was a decline in HIF1-alpha during corpora lutea formation in the reproductive aging rats.


CONCLUSIONS
The reproductive aging corpora lutea have a temporal decline in phosphorylated VEGFR-2 levels but not in the total VEGFR-2 levels. The data suggest that the VEGFR response mechanism is different in the aging ovary.
Yeh
John
J
Department of Gynecology-Obstetrics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14222, USA. jyeh@buffalo.edu
Kim
Beom Su
BS
Peresie
Jennifer
J
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor