Functional response of systemic and intrafollicular placental growth factor in cycling mares.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the physiological reference values for systemic and intrafollicular placental growth factor (PlGF) concentrations in different categories of follicular sizes in cycling mares, according to progesterone (P4) and oestradiol (E2) patterns. Sixty ovaries were taken after slaughter from 30 clinically healthy mares. Regarding their size, the follicles were classified into three different categories, i.e. small (20-30 mm), medium-sized (31-40 mm) and large (≥41 mm), and follicular fluid (FF) was sampled from each single follicle. Intrafollicular PlGF concentrations were significantly increased in larger and medium-sized follicles compared to small follicles, and their values were 1.48 and 1.36 times higher than the systemic values, respectively. On the other hand, systemic PlGF concentrations were 1.3 times higher than those in the FF of follicles of small size. Intrafollicular P4 concentrations were significantly higher in larger follicles than in small ones, and their concentrations were 6.74 and 3.42 times higher than the systemic values, respectively. Intrafollicular E2 concentrations were significantly higher in large and medium-sized follicles than in follicles of small size, and their concentrations were 21.1, 15.4 and 8.35 times higher than the systemic values, respectively. Intrafollicular and systemic PlGF concentrations were strongly and positively correlated; nevertheless, no correlations between intrafollicular and systemic steroid hormones, PlGF and follicle diameters, PlGF and E2, or PlGF and P4 were observed. This represents the first study to characterise systemic and intrafollicular PlGF concentrations in cycling normal mares, providing evidence that the bioavailability of this factor in follicles of medium and large sizes was higher than in small follicles, independently of steroid hormone concentrations. Further studies are needed to assess the presumable implications of PlGF in follicular angiogenesis in mares, similar to those already observed in women and primates.
Publication Date: 2020-08-31 PubMed ID: 32877357DOI: 10.1556/004.2020.00034Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research aims to understand the concentration levels of placental growth factor (PlGF) in different sized ovarian follicles in healthy mares. It provides the first quantification of both systemic and intrafollicular PlGF, finding that it is notably concentrated in large and medium follicles irrespective of steroid hormones.
Research Methodology
- The study was conducted on sixty ovaries obtained post slaughter from thirty healthy mares.
- Each ovary was categorized into small (20-30mm), medium (31-40mm), and large (≥41mm) follicles depending on their size.
- The researchers then sampled follicular fluid (FF) from each follicle to measure the concentration of different hormones.
Finding: PlGF Concentration Varied with Follicle Size
- Significant increase in intrafollicular PlGF concentration was observed in larger and medium-sized follicles compared to the smaller ones.
- Intrafollicular PlGF levels in larger and medium-sized follicles were approximately 1.48 and 1.36 times higher than systemic values.
- Conversely, systemic PlGF concentration was higher than intrafollicular concentration in smaller follicles.
Finding: Varied Concentrations of Progesterone and Oestradiol
- Intrafollicular P4 (progesterone) concentrations were markedly higher in larger follicles compared to smaller ones.
- For intrafollicular E2 (oestradiol) concentrations, higher amounts were found in large and medium-sized follicles than in smaller ones.
- No correlations were found between intrafollicular and systemic steroid hormones, PlGF and follicle diameters, PlGF and E2, or PlGF and P4.
Research Significance
- This is the first study to characterize both systemic and intrafollicular PlGF concentrations in normal cycling mares.
- It has established that the bioavailability of PlGF in medium-sized and larger follicles is higher despite the concentrations of steroid hormones.
- Further research is needed to evaluate the possible implications of PlGF in follicular angiogenesis (blood vessel formation), a process already noted in women and primates.
Cite This Article
APA
Satué K, Fazio E, Cravana C, Quartuccio M, Marcilla M, Medica P.
(2020).
Functional response of systemic and intrafollicular placental growth factor in cycling mares.
Acta Vet Hung, 68(2), 200-206.
https://doi.org/10.1556/004.2020.00034 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- 1Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, Valencia, Spain.
- 2Department of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Physiology Unit, Messina University, Messina, Italy.
- 2Department of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Physiology Unit, Messina University, Messina, Italy.
- 3Department of Veterinary Sciences, Physiopathology and Clinic of Reproduction Unit, Messina University, Messina, Italy.
- 1Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, Valencia, Spain.
- 2Department of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Physiology Unit, Messina University, Messina, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Ovarian Follicle / physiology
- Placenta Growth Factor / metabolism
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