title: Stanniocalcin, a potential ovarian angiogenesis regulator, does not affect endothelial cell apoptosis.
abstract: The ovarian follicle represents an outstanding model for the investigation of the angiogenic process. In fact, follicular development is associated with an extensive neovascularization, and physiological angiogenesis is necessary for folliculogenesis. However, although the major factors triggering the angiogenic events have been thoroughly investigated and are now relatively well defined, information about the molecular events involved in the modulation and/or arrest of neovascularization is still scarce. Therefore, this research focused on the potential involvement of stanniocalcin (STC), a protein whose biological function is still unclear, in the control mechanisms of follicular angiogenesis. We evaluated the effect of 5 and 50 ng/mL STC on the production of the main proangiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), by swine granulosa cells. Moreover, STC's effect on cell viability and the modulation of caspase-3 and -7 activities in swine aortic endothelial cells were also examined. Granulosa cell VEGF production was significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited by STC. Endothelial cell viability was significantly (P < 0.001) increased, whereas caspase activities were reduced (P < 0.01) by STC. These data indicate that STC is not angiosuppressive for endothelial cells, although it could potentially modulate local angiogenesis acting at the granulosa cell level.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Biotecnologie Veterinarie, Qualità e Sicurezza degli Alimenti, Sezione di Fisiologia Veterinaria, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy. basini@unipr.it
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Basini
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bussolati
authors.forename: Sujen Eleonora
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grasselli
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053179:Caspase 7 / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D010053:Ovary / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013552:Swine; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C051795:teleocalcin; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D053148:Caspase 3; D053179:Caspase 7