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Role of platelet--activating factor in progesterone synthesis and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in rat luteal cells

Zheng Huili, Wen Haixia, Liu Guoyi, Ni Jiang

Department of Physiology, Harbin Medical University.Harbin 150086,Heilongjiang

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on progesterone synthesis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in rat luteal cells. Immature (25-28-day old) female Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously with 50 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG), and 25 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) 48 h later, to induce folliclular development. Seven days after hCG administration, the rats were killed by guillotine and the ovary luteal cells were collected. After incubation for 24 h, luteal cells were incubated without or with different doses (0.1 #mu#g/mL, 1 #mu#g/mL, 10 #mu#g/mL) of PAF at 37℃ (5% CO_(2)) for 24 h, then progesterone concentration was evaluated by radioimmunoassay (RIA); apoptotic rate and VEGF expression in luteal cells were also assessed by flow cytometry and RT-PCR, respectively. The results showed that PAF promoted progesterone production, with a maximal effect at a 1 #mu#g/mL (P<0.05); PAF increased apoptotic rate not in a dose-dependent manner, but 10 #mu#g/mL PAF enhanced apoptotic rate significantly (P<0.05); furthermore, PAF stimulated VEGF expression in luteal cells, especially at 1 #mu#g/mL (P<0.01). It is suggested that PAF regulates progesterone synthesis and VEGF mRNA expression in luteal cells to mediate corpus luteum formation in rat ovary.

Key words: platelet-activating factor;luteum;vascular endothelial growth factor

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Citing This Article：

Zheng Huili, Wen Haixia, Liu Guoyi, Ni Jiang. Role of platelet--activating factor in progesterone synthesis and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in rat luteal cells. Acta Physiol Sin 2008; 60 (2): 275-278 (in Chinese with English abstract).