title: Gene injections of vascular endothelial growth factor and growth differentiation factor-9 stimulate ovarian follicular development in immature female rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) on follicular development of the ovaries in immature female rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Superovulation and gene injection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal reproduction laboratory in Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wister-Imamichi female rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ovulated oocytes from rats with injected VEGF and GDF-9 gene fragments were counted, and the ovaries removed from those rats were used in the histologic observation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follicular dynamics and angiogenesis after VEGF and GDF-9 gene fragments injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A single injection of the VEGF gene led to the production of a large number of oocytes (approximately 110 oocytes) from an individual animal that was injected with the gene at 21 days after birth, and after mating most of the oocytes were fertilized. Direct ovarian injection of GDF-9 stimulated the development of medium-sized antral follicles. The number of ovulated oocytes after injection of the VEGF plus GDF-9 gene fragments was the same as with a single injection of the VEGF gene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single injection of the VEGF or GDF-9 gene stimulated follicular development, and injection of both genes did increase the number of ovulated oocytes from individual animals. An exogenous gene fragments injection promoted the maximum potential of ovarian function in immature female rats.
authors: Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan. shimizut@obihiro.ac.jp
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Shimizu
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Iijima
authors: Yoshinori
authors: Y
authors: Ogawa
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Miyazaki
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Sasada
authors: Eimei
authors: E
authors: Sato
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D055430:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15; D002452:Cell Count; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005496:Follicular Atresia / Q000235:genetics; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9; D007267:Injections; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000098:blood supply / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000235:genetics*; D013480:Superovulation / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C525904:Bmp15 protein, rat; D055430:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15; C525899:Gdf9 protein, rat; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D004247:DNA