Involvement of bone marrow-derived vascular progenitor cells in neovascularization during formation of the corpus luteum in mice

Biol Reprod. 2012 Sep 7;87(3):55. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.099960. Print 2012 Sep.

Abstract

Neovascularization is necessary for formation of the corpus luteum (CL) and includes angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Vasculogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels by bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells. Here we investigated whether vasculogenesis occurs in neovascularization during CL formation. Mice transplanted with bone marrow from transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) were injected with equine chorionic gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to induce ovulation and subsequent CL formation. Immunohistochemistry was performed on the ovaries obtained before hCG injection and at 6, 12, and 24 h after hCG injection using antibodies for CD34 or CD31 (an endothelial cell marker), platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFR-beta, a pericyte marker), F4/80 (a macrophage marker), and GFP (a bone marrow-derived cell marker). Cells immunostained for CD34, PDGFR-beta, F4/80, and GFP were present in the theca cell layer of the preovulatory follicle before hCG injection. Each of these cell types invaded the granulosa cell layer after hCG injection, and a number of them were observed in the CL 24 h after hCG injection. Fluorescence-based immunohistochemistry or double immunohistochemical staining revealed that a few CD34/CD31-positive cells and PDGFR-beta-positive cells were also positive for GFP in the preovulatory follicle and CL, and that many of the GFP-positive cells recruited to the CL during CL formation were F4/80-positive macrophages. In conclusion, bone marrow-derived vascular progenitor cells and macrophages contribute to neovascularization during CL formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / cytology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow Cells / physiology*
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / pharmacology
  • Corpus Luteum / drug effects
  • Corpus Luteum / metabolism
  • Corpus Luteum / physiology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / cytology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiology*
  • Female
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / analogs & derivatives
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / pharmacology
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Luteinization / drug effects
  • Luteinization / genetics
  • Luteinization / metabolism
  • Luteinization / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic* / drug effects
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic* / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic* / physiology

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • enhanced green fluorescent protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • LHRH, Ala(6)-Gly(10)-ethylamide-