Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 during early pregnancy in mice.

Author(s)

Luciana Oliveira da Silva

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2008-05-28

Examining board members

Sergio Ferreira de Oliveira; Maria Ines Borella; Sima Godosevicius Katz

• Advisor: Sergio Ferreira de Oliveira

Abstract

In rodents, increase of vascular permeability, decidual cell transformation, and uterine angiogenesis are crucial events for the success of pregnancy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a mitogen for endothelial cells and an inducer of angiogenesis. VEGF acts via two tyrosine kinase family receptors: VEGFR1 and VEGFR2. The aim of this study was to investigate using the immunohistochemical method, the spatiotemporal expression of VEGF and its receptors VEGFR1 e VEGFR2 by mouse endometrial cells on days 4 to 8 of pregnancy. On day 4, VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 were expressed mostly by the luminal and glandular epithelium. Stromal cells showed a very weak labeling. On days 5-8, VEGF and its receptors showed an increased labeling throughout the mesometrial decidua. The expression of VEGF, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 were differentially expressed in the mesometrial cells and in the predecidual cells of the antimesometrial decidua. VEGFR1 and VEGF R2 were highly expressed by endothelial cells of the mesometrial sinusoids, and Nk uterine cells. (AU)