title: Circannual changes in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the testis of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).
abstract: Adult roe deer males show seasonal cycles of testicular growth and involution. The exact timing of these cycles requires endocrine regulation and local testicular control by autocrine/paracrine factors. Recent findings suggest that the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) might have effects on both vascular and germinative cells in testis. Thus, we studied the expression pattern of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in roe deer testis using quantitative RT-PCR. The strength of VEGF mRNA expression depended on season. It reached its highest level at the peak of spermatogenesis during the pre-rutting period and had its nadir at the end of the rut when involution already began. The results suggested that VEGF may directly affect the regulation of spermatogenesis but may not be involved predominantly in testicular microvasculature as initially expected.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Sciences, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany. asja.wagener@agrar.hu-berlin.de
authors.forename: Asja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wagener
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blottner
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Göritz
authors.forename: Wolf Jürgen
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Streich
authors.forename: Jörns
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fickel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D024581:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D024581:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating)