OBJECTIVES: The effects of superovulation on the expression of mRNA and protein of TIMP-3 and MMP-9 in murine endometrium were assessed. METHODS: Using murine pregnant uteri of gestation day (g.d.) 4, 5 and 6 after injection of PMSG 5 and 10 IU, the effects of superovulation were assessed and compared with those of natural pregnancy and pseudopregnancy groups using quantitative competitive RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Expression of TIMP-3 mRNA and protein showed an increase in PMSG groups and pseudopregnancy group, while there was no difference in MMP-9 expression between natural pregnancy and PMSG, pseudopregnancy groups on g.d. 4 through g.d. 6. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that ovarian hyperstimulation by gonadotropin, which produces many oocytes and embryos, may have a detrimental effect on embryonic implantation and its relevant endometrial remodeling process by increase in expression of TIMP-3 in murine endometrium.
Animals ; Embryonic Structures ; Endometrium* ; Female ; Gonadotropins ; Mice ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pseudopregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; Superovulation* ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 ; Uterus

AIMThe expression of VEGF in rat ovaries corpus luteum and its expression pattern were observed to investigate the effect of VEGF on luteal formation and regression.

METHODSThe model of immature rat of pseudopregnant was established using pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the expression of VEGF in corpus luteum was detected by immunohistochemistry, the levels of VEGF in corpus luteum was measured by ELISA, and the levels of NO in corpus luteum was measured by chemistry assay.

RESULTSVEGF expressed weakly in rat corpus luteum on the day 1, and enhanced gradually from day 3 to day 5, then went up to the peak on the day 7, and maintained to day 9. On the day 11, the expression of VEGF began to decrease. The levels of VEGF were similar to the expression of VEGF. The levels of NO appeared like double wave. The levels increased gradually from day 1 to day 5, and peaked on the day 7, then decreased on the day 9, while lightly increased on the day 11, and showed significant increase and reached the highest on the day 13, then decreased the lowest on the day 15.

CONCLUSIONThere is a intimate temporal relationship between the expression of VEGF and angiogenesis in corpus luteum, VEGF may play a role in luteum formation by improving angiogenesis mediated by NO, NO may play a role in luteum regression as a luteolytic during the late luteal phase.

Animals ; Corpus Luteum ; metabolism ; Female ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Pseudopregnancy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism