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Qiu Y, Seager M, Osman A, Castle-Miller J, Bevan H, Tortonese DJ, Murphy D, Harper SJ, Fraser HM, Donaldson LF, Bates DO. Ovarian VEGF(165)b expression regulates follicular development, corpus luteum function and fertility. Reproduction 2012; 143:501-11. [PMID: 22232745 PMCID: PMC3325318 DOI: 10.1530/rep-11-0091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2011] [Revised: 12/07/2011] [Accepted: 01/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis and vascular regression are critical for the female ovulatory cycle. They enable progression and regression of follicular development, and corpora lutea formation and regression. Angiogenesis in the ovary occurs under the control of the vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA) family of proteins, which are generated as both pro-(VEGF(165)) and anti(VEGF(165)b)-angiogenic isoforms by alternative splicing. To determine the role of the VEGF(165)b isoforms in the ovulatory cycle, we measured VEGF(165)b expression in marmoset ovaries by immunohistochemistry and ELISA, and used transgenic mice over-expressing VEGF(165)b in the ovary. VEGF(165)b was expressed in the marmoset ovaries in granulosa cells and theca, and the balance of VEGF(165)b:VEGF(165) was regulated during luteogenesis. Mice over-expressing VEGF(165)b in the ovary were less fertile than wild-type littermates, had reduced secondary and tertiary follicles after mating, increased atretic follicles, fewer corpora lutea and generated fewer embryos in the oviduct after mating, and these were more likely not to retain the corona radiata. These results indicate that the balance of VEGFA isoforms controls follicle progression and luteogenesis, and that control of isoform expression may regulate fertility in mammals, including in primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Qiu
- Microvascular Research LaboratoriesSchool of Physiology and Pharmacology, Bristol Heart InstitutePre-clinical Veterinary Sciences Building, Southwell Street, Bristol, BS2 8EJUK
| | - M Seager
- Microvascular Research LaboratoriesSchool of Physiology and Pharmacology, Bristol Heart InstitutePre-clinical Veterinary Sciences Building, Southwell Street, Bristol, BS2 8EJUK
| | - A Osman
- Microvascular Research LaboratoriesSchool of Physiology and Pharmacology, Bristol Heart InstitutePre-clinical Veterinary Sciences Building, Southwell Street, Bristol, BS2 8EJUK
| | - J Castle-Miller
- Microvascular Research LaboratoriesSchool of Physiology and Pharmacology, Bristol Heart InstitutePre-clinical Veterinary Sciences Building, Southwell Street, Bristol, BS2 8EJUK
- Centre for Comparative and Clinical AnatomyUniversity of BristolPre-clinical Veterinary Sciences Building, Southwell Street, Bristol, BS2 8EJUK
| | - H Bevan
- Microvascular Research LaboratoriesSchool of Physiology and Pharmacology, Bristol Heart InstitutePre-clinical Veterinary Sciences Building, Southwell Street, Bristol, BS2 8EJUK
| | - D J Tortonese
- Centre for Comparative and Clinical AnatomyUniversity of BristolPre-clinical Veterinary Sciences Building, Southwell Street, Bristol, BS2 8EJUK
| | - D Murphy
- Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and EndocrinologyUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - S J Harper
- Microvascular Research LaboratoriesSchool of Physiology and Pharmacology, Bristol Heart InstitutePre-clinical Veterinary Sciences Building, Southwell Street, Bristol, BS2 8EJUK
| | - H M Fraser
- MRC Human Reproductive Sciences UnitQueen's Medical Research Institute47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJUK
| | - L F Donaldson
- School of Physiology and PharmacologyMedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TDUK
| | - D O Bates
- Microvascular Research LaboratoriesSchool of Physiology and Pharmacology, Bristol Heart InstitutePre-clinical Veterinary Sciences Building, Southwell Street, Bristol, BS2 8EJUK
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