Vascular endothelial growth factor A and its two receptors in human preantral follicles from fetuses, girls, and women.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and that its two receptors (VEGFR1, VEGFR2) in human preantral follicles.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical, in situ hybridization, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) study of the expression of the VEGF-A system in human ovaries.


METHODS
Major tertiary-care academic center.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients who underwent pregnancy terminations at 21-35 gestational weeks and 29 girls/women aged 5-39 years who underwent ovarian laparoscopies.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Laboratory analysis of human ovarian specimens.


RESULTS
Immunhistochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed the expression of the proteins and mRNA transcripts for VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in oocytes, granulosa cells, and stroma cells from fetuses and girls/women. The protein for VEGF-A was detected immunohistochemically in oocytes, granulosa cells, and stroma cells from fetuses and girls. VEGF-A and VEGFR1 proteins were expressed more strongly than VEGFR2. VEGF-A(121), VEGF-A(165), and VEGF-A(189) isoforms were identified by RT-PCR in the ovarian samples from fetuses and women.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of the VEGF-A receptors, particularly in the granulosa cells, suggests that VEGF-A might be involved in proliferation initiation of primordial follicles or play an as yet unknown role in human preantral follicles.
Abir
Ronit
R
Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva 49100, Israel. ronita@clalit.org.il
Ao
Asangla
A
Zhang
Xiao Yun
XY
Garor
Roni
R
Nitke
Shmuel
S
Fisch
Benjamin
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005865:Gestational Age; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2