Objective: An adequate vascularization in the ovary is important for optimal oocyte maturation. By secreting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) granulosa cells promote blood vessel growth. In addition, they par...Objective: An adequate vascularization in the ovary is important for optimal oocyte maturation. By secreting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) granulosa cells promote blood vessel growth. In addition, they paracrinely reduce the production of VEGF antagonist sVEGFR- 1 (soluble VEGF receptor 1) in endothelial cells. In the present study we examined the influence of smoking on the sVEGFR- 1 concentration in human follicular fluid and on the paracrine activity of granulosa cells. Material and Methods: Follicular fluid samples were obtained during oocyte retrieval from 50 smoking and 50 non- smoking women undergoing in- vitro fertilization treatment. Follicular fluids were used either directly for sVEGFR- 1 quantification or added to endothelial cell cultures to determine the soluble receptor concentration in culture supernatant after four days’ incubation. Results: In this study we were able to show that smokers have a distinctly higher concentration of soluble VEGF receptor 1 in follicular fluid than non- smokers (499.6± 77.7 pg/ml versus 159.2± 29.8 pg/ml). Also, follicular fluid of smoking women shows a significantly less inhibiting effect on endothelial sVEGFR- 1 production than of non- smoking women (1174.1 ± 93.8 pg/ml compared to 794.2 ± 70.1 pg/ml). Conclusion: A higher concentration of sVEGFR- 1 indicates decreased angiogenic activity in follicles of smokers which may result in reduced blood circulation during follicular growth and thus impaired oocyte maturation by malnutrition.展开更多
文摘Objective: An adequate vascularization in the ovary is important for optimal oocyte maturation. By secreting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) granulosa cells promote blood vessel growth. In addition, they paracrinely reduce the production of VEGF antagonist sVEGFR- 1 (soluble VEGF receptor 1) in endothelial cells. In the present study we examined the influence of smoking on the sVEGFR- 1 concentration in human follicular fluid and on the paracrine activity of granulosa cells. Material and Methods: Follicular fluid samples were obtained during oocyte retrieval from 50 smoking and 50 non- smoking women undergoing in- vitro fertilization treatment. Follicular fluids were used either directly for sVEGFR- 1 quantification or added to endothelial cell cultures to determine the soluble receptor concentration in culture supernatant after four days’ incubation. Results: In this study we were able to show that smokers have a distinctly higher concentration of soluble VEGF receptor 1 in follicular fluid than non- smokers (499.6± 77.7 pg/ml versus 159.2± 29.8 pg/ml). Also, follicular fluid of smoking women shows a significantly less inhibiting effect on endothelial sVEGFR- 1 production than of non- smoking women (1174.1 ± 93.8 pg/ml compared to 794.2 ± 70.1 pg/ml). Conclusion: A higher concentration of sVEGFR- 1 indicates decreased angiogenic activity in follicles of smokers which may result in reduced blood circulation during follicular growth and thus impaired oocyte maturation by malnutrition.
