Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in the Human Oviduct: Localization and Regulation of Messenger RNA Expression In Vivo

• Published in: Biology of reproduction 2003-05, Vol.68 (5), p.1870-1876
• Main Authors: Lam, Po Mui, Briton-Jones, Christine, Cheung, Che Kwok, Lok, Ingrid Hung, Yuen, Pong Mo, Cheung, Lai Ping, Haines, Christopher
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Contents; Estradiol - blood; fallopian tubes; Fallopian Tubes - metabolism; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation - physiology; growth factors; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Mammalian female genital system; Menstrual Cycle - physiology; Morphology. Physiology; oviduct; Ovulation - physiology; Progesterone - blood; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - biosynthesis; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; Vertebrates: reproduction
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.102.012674

In this study, we examined the localization of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the changes in VEGF mRNA expression in various regions of the oviduct in fertile women throughout the ovulatory cycle. Oviduct tissue was collected from 22 women undergoing laparoscopic tubal sterilization or hysterectomy for a benign gynecological condition. Oviduct sections were divided into isthmus, ampullary, and infundibular regions. Serial cross sections were analyzed for the presence of VEGF by specific immunohistochemical staining. The mucosal layer was isolated, and a semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed. Immunohistochemical study revealed VEGF in the oviduct luminal epithelium, smooth muscle cells, and blood vessels within the oviduct. VEGF mRNA expression in oviduct was the highest during the periovulatory stage, and the expression in the ampullary and infundibular regions was higher than that in the isthmus. There was a significant positive correlation between serum FSH and LH concentrations and VEGF mRNA expression. There was no significant correlation between serum estradiol and progesterone concentrations and VEGF mRNA expression. These results suggest that VEGF in human oviduct may play an important role related the early reproductive events, which occur predominantly in the ampulla during the periovulatory phase when serum FSH and LH concentrations are high.