Regulated expression of the renin-angiotensin-system in human granulosa lutein cells: angiotensin II increases VEGF expression but its synthesis is reduced by hCG.

Introduction: The Renin-Angiotensin-System (RAS) has been suspected not only to control vascular tone but also to regulate angiogenesis. Angiotensin II has been shown to influence angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The Corpus luteum undergoes intense VEGF-dependent angiogenesis, regulated by luteinising hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG).