17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone suppresses neovascularization induced by HPLC-purified ovarian hyaluronic acid-like glycosaminoglycan in mice.

HPLC-purified glycosaminoglycans (hpGAG) prepared from extracts of non-luteal mouse (JcL:ICR strain) ovaries were assayed for neovascularization by implanting Elvax films, containing test samples, on the lateral wall of the sheath of m. rectus abdominis in adult female mice of the same strain. Neovascularization occurred in a dose-dependent manner, and was characterized by capillary outgrowth extending into the tissue surrounding the implant. The single major peak of purified GAG on a column of TSK gel DEAE got out of order after treatment with streptococcal hyaluronidase or nitrous acid. The activity of this fraction was also greatly reduced when treated with streptococcal hyaluronidase or nitrous acid. When hpGAG was embedded in the implant with 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone at a dose of 20 micrograms/film, neovascularization induced by means of hpGAGs was suppressed. Progesterone at a dose of 50 micrograms/film did not suppress the neovascularization induced by ovarian hpGAG. These findings suggest that 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone suppresses the angiogenic activity of hyaluronic acid-like hpGAG in the ovary.