Abstract
Active angiogenesis occurs during early luteal development. Angiogenesis in the corpus luteum (CL) is regulated by various growth factors in many species. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the proliferation of the microvascular endothelial cells derived from developing bovine CL. The expression of HGF and HGF receptor (c-met) mRNAs in cultured bovine endothelial cells was also observed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. The cells were exposed to HGF (50 ng/ml) for 1, 2, 4, and 6 days. HGF significantly increased the total DNA in endothelial cells at all exposure times (P<0.05). When the endothelial cells were exposed to HGF (1-50 ng/ml) for 4 days, total DNA was increased in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Moreover, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) also increased the total DNA. However, when the endothelial cells were simultaneously exposed to HGF (50 ng/ml) with bFGF (50 ng/ml) or VEGF (50 ng/ml), the effect of HGF was not augmented. Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of both HGF and c-met were determined in the endothelial cells. The overall results suggest that HGF is involved in luteal angiogenesis by stimulating proliferation of endothelial cells in cattle.
