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

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 semi quantitatively, 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 11 exerts its multiple actions via specific receptors, there may be other factors, such as a receptor blockade, that contribute to the VEGF expression. (C) 2004 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.