title: Vascular endothelial growth factor A is a putative paracrine regulator in seasonally controlled spermatogenesis: insights from a ruminant model, the roe deer.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) influences spermatogenesis, but its impact on seasonally regulated sperm production is still not fully understood. Thus, we investigated both expression levels and localisation of VEGFA and its receptors VEGFR1 and 2 in roe buck testis via real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry in relation to seasonal changes in the cellular composition of the testis. VEGFA was expressed by interstitial cells while its receptors were found on endothelial and perivascular cells. Inside the tubules, VEGFA was located in spermatogonia and spermatocytes, VEGFR1 was present on elongating spermatids and VEGFR2 on Sertoli cells. VEGFR1 mRNA was expressed tenfold lower than VEGFR2 and VEGF mRNAs. Relative VEGF and VEGFR2 expression (divided by the number of VEGFA and VEGFR2 expressing cells) showed an increase towards the rut (July/August) and a decrease thereafter. The results suggest involvement of VEGFA in the adjustment of vascular permeability as well as in spermiogenesis and the proliferation of spermatogonia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14163 Berlin, Germany. schoen.jennifer@vetmed.fu-berlin.de
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schön
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blottner
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gabler
authors.forename: Jörns
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fickel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D003670:Deer / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D012621:Seasons; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013087:Spermatids / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; 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
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2