Abstract

One of the most important factors affecting survival rate of ovarian follicles during transplantation period is proper vascular development. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on auto-transplanted ovarian tissue. Twenty-one-day-old female mice (n=30) transplanted as control group and 21-day-old female mice (n=40) were divided into 4 groups that were treated with 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mu g/mL of VEGF directly injected to auto-transplanted ovarian tissue. Twenty-one days after transplantation, mice were treated with 7.5 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin. Transplanted ovaries were removed and sections were prepared from transplanted tissues for staining. The most effective dosage of VEGF on transplanted tissue was determined over H&E (hematoxylin and eosin) staining results. Slides were compared using TUNEL staining and CD31 assay for the most effective dosage. The percentages of preantral and antral follicles were not significantly different between transplanted group with 4 mu g/mL VEGF and non-transplanted group. Lower apoptotic areas and higher CD31 expression were observed in transplanted ovaries treated with 4 mu g/mL VEGF when compared to transplanted ovaries without VEGF treatment. VEGF positively affects the quality of ovarian tissue during transplantation. Survival rate of follicles and follicular development has improved with the effect of VEGF.