Les with two to three layers of granulosa cells (Figure 1F). As preovulatory follicles mature, VEGF expression appears to progressively in-crease, in order that antral follicles show intense granulosa cell signal (Figure 1I) that is frequently linked with moderate or weak VEGF expression inside the adjacent thecal layers (each the theca interna and externa is often VEGF-positive; Figure 1I). As the secondary follicle matures, EGVEGF expression in granulosa cells declines (Figure 1H), though inside a previous 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 may be noticed inside the surrounding theca.VEGF and EG-VEGF in Human Ovaries 1885 AJP June 2003, Vol. 162, No.Figure 3. EG-VEGF and VEGF expression in standard ovary early- to mid-stage CL. A CL at about day five after ovulation, characterized microscopically by well-developed vascularity and early theca lutein cell differentiation (I), shows strong VEGF (C) and EG-VEGF (E) expression in spatially overlapping CL cell populations. A: False-colored autoradiographic film final results show yellow-orange overlapping of VEGF (red) and EG-VEGF (green) expression in a huge cystic CL. It was not attainable to decide from this outcome whether VEGF and EG-VEGF were co-expressed within the identical cells, or in separate cells inside the CL. The distribution of EG-VEGF and VEGF signal across the entire CL is ADAMTS Like 4 Proteins Formulation constant with expression by theca granulosa cells, but theca lutein cells might also express EG-VEGF at this stage. Vascular VEGFR-2 (KDR) expression is intense within the CL (G). Scale bars: 5 mm (B); 100 m (C); 50 m (J).Around 0.1 of your follicles present at birth mature for the point of ovulation, subsequently progressing to form CL. The remaining follicles mature to numerous preovulatory stages, then undergo degenerative changes, becoming atretic.28 We examined expression of VEGF and EG-VEGF in atretic follicles at various stages of their evolution. Figure 1, M to O, illustrates a representative example of a mature (collapsed) atretic follicle, which typically strongly expresses EG-VEGF inside 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 immediately adjacent for the follicular basal lamina. Atretic follicles in a less mature stage of evolution might retain a central lumen lacking intact granulosa cells, but surrounded by luteinized thecal cells. Follicles at this stage (not shown), typically expressed higher levels of EG-VEGF in the thecal cells, but lacked VEGF expression. Follicles using a huge central lumen lined by an intact granulosa cell layer are occasionally found to lack VEGF expression within the granulosa cell layer, but retain Complement Component 8 beta Chain Proteins Recombinant Proteins substantial VEGF expression (and have EG-VEGF expression) in the theca interna (not shown). It really is unclear no matter whether follicles with this1886 Ferrara et al AJP June 2003, Vol. 162, No.Figure 4. EG-VEGF and VEGF expression in regular ovary mid-stage CL. A: False-colored autoradiographic film results show intense EG-VEGF (green) expression within a narrow convoluted border surrounding a large CL. This mid-stage CL (around day eight following ovulation), characterized by well-developed granulosa lutein vascularity (G) and distinct theca lutein cell differentiation (I), shows intense EG-VEGF expression inside the theca lutein cell population at the CL perimeter, surrounding the vessels su.