Les with two to 3 layers of granulosa cells (Figure 1F). As preovulatory follicles mature, VEGF expression appears to progressively in-crease, to ensure that antral follicles show intense granulosa cell signal (Figure 1I) that may be often linked with moderate or weak VEGF expression within the adjacent thecal layers (both the theca interna and externa could be VEGF-positive; Figure 1I). As the secondary follicle matures, EGVEGF expression in granulosa cells declines (Figure 1H), though in a prior series we detected some EG-VEGF expression in granulosa cells within the cumulus oophorus surrounding the oocyte.18 In antral follicles, variable EG-VEGF expression is often seen in the surrounding theca.VEGF and EG-VEGF in Human Ovaries 1885 AJP June 2003, Vol. 162, No.Figure three. EG-VEGF and VEGF expression in regular ovary early- to HDAC2 Inhibitor Gene ID mid-stage CL. A CL at roughly day 5 immediately after ovulation, characterized microscopically by well-developed vascularity and early theca lutein cell differentiation (I), shows powerful VEGF (C) and EG-VEGF (E) expression in spatially overlapping CL cell populations. A: False-colored autoradiographic film benefits show yellow-orange overlapping of VEGF (red) and EG-VEGF (green) expression within a massive cystic CL. It was not feasible to ascertain from this outcome regardless of whether VEGF and EG-VEGF had been co-expressed inside the identical cells, or in separate cells within the CL. The distribution of EG-VEGF and VEGF signal across the entire CL is consistent with expression by theca granulosa cells, but theca lutein cells may well also express EG-VEGF at this stage. Vascular VEGFR-2 (KDR) expression is intense inside the CL (G). Scale bars: 5 mm (B); one hundred m (C); 50 m (J).Approximately 0.1 with the follicles present at birth mature to the point of ovulation, subsequently progressing to type CL. The remaining follicles mature to several preovulatory stages, then undergo degenerative modifications, becoming atretic.28 We examined expression of VEGF and EG-VEGF in atretic follicles at distinct stages of their evolution. Figure 1, M to O, illustrates a representative example of a mature (collapsed) atretic follicle, which commonly strongly expresses EG-VEGF within the residual thecal cells surrounding the dense hyaline remnant of the follicular basal lamina. VEGF is only weakly expressed (Figure 1O) ina subset of those cells straight away adjacent to the follicular basal lamina. Atretic follicles within a less mature stage of evolution may Kainate Receptor Agonist supplier possibly retain a central lumen lacking intact granulosa cells, but surrounded by luteinized thecal cells. Follicles at this stage (not shown), generally expressed higher levels of EG-VEGF in the thecal cells, but lacked VEGF expression. Follicles with a massive central lumen lined by an intact granulosa cell layer are occasionally located to lack VEGF expression in the granulosa cell layer, but retain important VEGF expression (and have EG-VEGF expression) inside the theca interna (not shown). It’s unclear regardless of whether follicles with this1886 Ferrara et al AJP June 2003, Vol. 162, No.Figure 4. EG-VEGF and VEGF expression in standard ovary mid-stage CL. A: False-colored autoradiographic film final results show intense EG-VEGF (green) expression within a narrow convoluted border surrounding a big CL. This mid-stage CL (about day eight right after ovulation), characterized by well-developed granulosa lutein vascularity (G) and distinct theca lutein cell differentiation (I), shows intense EG-VEGF expression within the theca lutein cell population at the CL perimeter, surrounding the vessels su.