IBYME   02675
INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA Y MEDICINA EXPERIMENTAL
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Angiopoietins/TIE2 system and VEGF are involved in ovarian function in a DHEA rat model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
Autor/es:
ABRAMOVICH DALHIA; IRUSTA GRISELDA; BAS DIANA; CATALDI NATALIA ISABEL; PARBORELL FERNANDA; TESONE MARTA
Revista:
ENDOCRINOLOGY
Editorial:
ENDOCRINE SOC
Referencias:
Lugar: Connecticut ; Año: 2012 vol. 157 p. 3446 - 3456
ISSN:
0013-7227
Resumen:
PCOS is the most common endocrinological pathology among women of reproductive age. It is characterized by anovulation, oligo- or amenorrhea, hyperandrogenism, obesity and insulin resistance. PCOS patients present elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum and follicular fluid. In this study, we examined ovarian expression of ANGPTs and their receptor TIE2, involved in stabilization of blood vessels, in a rat model of DHEA-induced PCOS. We also analyzed the effect of ovarian VEGF inhibition on ANGPTs/TIE2, follicular development and vascular stability. VEGF levels were increased in the PCOS ovaries, whereas the levels of its receptor FLK1 were decreased. In addition, periendothelial cell area and ANGPT1/ANGPT2 ratio in the ovary were increased in the PCOS group. Percentage of primary follicles (PrF) was increased and percentage of preantral follicles and corpora lutea was decreased in PCOS group. VEGF inhibition decreased the PrF percentage close to control values. Interestingly, despite the presence of cysts in the ovaries from VEGF inhibitor-treated PCOS rats, its percentage was lower than PCOS group without treatment. In summary, this study describes an alteration not only in VEGF/FLK1 system, but also in ANGPT/TIE2 system in a DHEA-induced PCOS rat model. This leads to an increase in periendothelial cell recruitment. We also demonstrated that ovarian VEGF inhibition can partially restore the accumulation of small follicles in PCOS rats and reduces cyst formation, improving ovulation and follicular development. Therefore, inhibition of VEGF could be considered, in addition to other currently applied treatments, as a new strategy to be studied in PCOS patients in order to restore ovarian function.