Ing metal-enhanced DAB (Pierce Chemical, Rockford, IL). Sections were lightly counterstained with hematoxylin, dehydrated, and coverslipped.Results Regular OvariesWe have expanded our prior analysis of EG-VEGF expression in human and primate ovarian follicles18 to consist of a wider array of human preovulatory and atretic follicular stages, as well as a array of CL stages. Expression of VEGF and EG-VEGF mRNA was detected by in situ hy-VEGF and EG-VEGF in Human Ovaries 1883 AJP June 2003, Vol. 162, No.Figure 1. VEGF and EG-VEGF expression in maturing follicles in typical ovaries. A : Major and primordial follicles show powerful expression of EG-VEGF (B) but tiny or no expression of VEGF (C). D : Maturing secondary follicles with a number of layers of granulosa cells preserve robust EG-VEGF expression, but show weak to moderate VEGF expression. G : Antral follicle (see arrowhead in Figure 5B), with abundant mitotic figures (not shown) in each the granulosa and thecal layers, has minimum EG-VEGF expression surrounding the theca, but really intense VEGF expression HDAC1 Inhibitor Synonyms within the granulosa cell layer and moderate VEGF expression (I) in the thecal cells. J : Antral follicle (see filled arrowhead in Figure 4B) with heterogeneous EG-VEGF (K) and VEGF (L) expression; the ideal finish of this follicle includes a narrow rim of granulosa cells, some of which are degenerating and detached from the theca; these granulosa cells as well as the surrounding theca externa, lack the significant VEGF expression (L) seen elsewhere inside the follicle; adjacent towards the region of weak VEGF expression, EG-VEGF thecal expression is focally powerful (K). M : Mature atretic follicle (see arrow in Figure 4B) shows robust expression of EG-VEGF (N) in residual theca interna cells surrounding the glassy membrane (arrows) remnant on the follicular basal lamina. There is weak VEGF expression (O) inside a subset of those cells. Scale bars: 100 m (A); 50 m (D); 200 m (G).1884 Ferrara et al AJP June 2003, Vol. 162, No.Figure 2. EG-VEGF and VEGF expression in normal ovary early-stage CL. An early-stage (roughly day two to three after ovulation) CL, characterized by incompletely developed vascularity within the granulosa lutein layer and by inapparent theca lutein cell differentiation (I, J), shows powerful VEGF expression inside the granulosa lutein cells. A: False-colored autoradiographic film results show intense VEGF expression (red) within the wall of your big cystic CL (B, arrow). Microscopic results show granulosa lutein cells are intensely VEGF-positive (C, dark field; J, vibrant field), but only IDO1 Inhibitor MedChemExpress weakly optimistic for EG-VEGF (E); the surrounding theca is only weakly optimistic for each VEGF and EG-VEGF. VEGFR-2 (KDR) expression (G) is present in smaller vessels in the boundary among the theca interna and granulosa cell layer, and in vessels invading the outermost granulosa cell layers (I, arrows). Other atretic follicles (A, B) with (closed arrowheads) and without having (open arrowhead) intact granulosa cell linings (detail not shown) show prominent EG-VEGF expression within the theca interna. Scale bars: 5 mm (B); 100 m (C); 50 m (J).bridization in all of the specimens examined. Figure 1, A to I, illustrates representative examples of EG-VEGF and VEGF expression in preovulatory follicles from typical ovaries. Granulosa cells in primordial and principal follicles express EG-VEGF strongly (Figure 1B), whereas VEGF expression is quite weak or undetectable (Figure 1C). VEGF expression is far more uniformly detectable but still weak in secondary follic.
