Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibiting therapy on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in hyperstimulated rat ovary.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibiting therapy on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the hyperstimulated rat ovary. DESIGN: Experimental study. SETTING: University animal research laboratory. ANIMAL(S) Thirty Wistar albino adult female rats were studied; 20 rats were stimulated with gonadotropins (groups 1 and 2), and 10 were controls (group 3). Ten of the stimulated rats received additional treatment with enalapril (group 2). INTERVENTION(S) At the end of the treatment period, rat ovaries were subjected to immunohistochemical staining with anti-VEGF antibodies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) VEGF staining intensity was graded semiquantitatively, and the H-score was calculated by light microscopic examination of the groups. RESULT(S) VEGF expression was found to be significantly higher in the endothelium and stroma in groups 1 and 2 compared with group 3. Although VEGF immunoreactivity was lower in the stimulation regimen plus enalapril group compared with the stimulation regimen-only group, the difference was insignificant. CONCLUSION(S) Enalapril does not seem to have a significant effect on VEGF expression in the hyperstimulated rat ovary. Because angiotensin II exerts its multiple actions via specific receptors, there may be other factors, such as a receptor blockade, that contribute to the VEGF expression.