In vivo regulation of mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (KDR and flt-1) in the human oviduct

Objective To examine the localization of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGF-R) and the changes in VEGF-R messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in various regions of the oviduct from fertile women throughout the ovulatory cycle. Design Prospective observational study. Setting University-based obstetrics and gynecology department. Patient(s) Twenty-two women who underwent laparoscopic tubal sterilization or hysterectomy for a benign gynecological condition. Intervention(s) The mucosal layer was isolated from the oviduct tissue. Immunohistochemistry and a semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed. Main outcome measure(s) Immunohistochemical localization of VEGF-R proteins in oviduct tissue, and the differences of VEGF-R mRNA expression in the various regions of the oviduct and in the various stages of the ovulatory cycle. Result(s) Immunohistochemical study localized VEGF-R, both KDR and flt-1, in the oviduct luminal epithelium, smooth muscle cells as well as blood vessels within the oviduct. Messenger RNA expression of KDR, but not flt-1, was significantly higher in the ampullary and infundibular regions than in the isthmus. Messenger RNA expression of flt-1, but not KDR, varied significantly in the oviduct along the course of an ovulatory cycle, with the highest level in the periovulatory stage. Conclusion(s) These results suggest that the two VEGF receptors may have different roles in the oviduct. Our data support a role for KDR in oviduct angiogenesis whereas flt-1 appears to be important in the temporal regulation of oviductal secretion.