Isobe N, Kitabayashi M, Yoshimura Y
Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan.
Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2005 Nov;29(4):634-45. doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2005.04.007. Epub 2005 May 31.
The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of microvessels in the theca and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the theca and granulosa of cystic follicles. Paraffin sections of cystic follicles were stained with Bandeiraea simplicifolia-I (BS-I) to visualize the endothelial cells of microvessels. The other sections were immunostained with anti-VEGF antibody. The mRNA expression of VEGF in the theca interna of cystic and healthy follicle was determined by RT-PCR. In the theca interna, cystic follicles with granulosa cells had significantly greater microvessel number density (the number of microvessels per given field) and area (area occupied by microvessels per given area) than healthy follicles in various sizes (<3, 4-8, >9 mm). Loss of granulosa cells from cystic follicles resulted in a similar number density, but significantly smaller area of microvessels in the theca interna. There was no significant difference in the microvessel number density and area of the theca externa between the types of follicle. VEGF protein was expressed in the granulosa and theca interna of healthy and cystic follicles. These results demonstrate that cystic follicles have a highly developed vasculature network in the theca interna, especially in cystic follicles containing granulosa cells. It is also suggested that VEGF is highly expressed in the cystic follicle as well as healthy follicle, which may be associated with advanced vasculature and the accumulation of follicular fluid in cystic follicles.
本研究的目的是检测囊性卵泡膜中微血管的分布以及囊性卵泡膜和颗粒细胞中血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）的表达。囊性卵泡的石蜡切片用单叶豆凝集素-I（BS-I）染色以观察微血管的内皮细胞。其他切片用抗VEGF抗体进行免疫染色。通过逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）测定囊性和健康卵泡膜中VEGF的mRNA表达。在卵泡膜内层，含有颗粒细胞的囊性卵泡在不同大小（<3、4-8、>9mm）下，其微血管数量密度（每给定视野中的微血管数量）和面积（每给定面积中微血管所占面积）均显著高于健康卵泡。囊性卵泡中颗粒细胞的缺失导致卵泡膜内层微血管数量密度相似，但微血管面积显著减小。不同类型卵泡的卵泡膜外层微血管数量密度和面积无显著差异。VEGF蛋白在健康和囊性卵泡的颗粒细胞和卵泡膜内层中均有表达。这些结果表明，囊性卵泡在卵泡膜内层有高度发达的血管网络，尤其是在含有颗粒细胞的囊性卵泡中。还提示VEGF在囊性卵泡和健康卵泡中均高表达，这可能与血管的发育以及囊性卵泡中卵泡液的积聚有关。
