Dynamics of Immune Cell Types Within the Macaque Corpus Luteum During the Menstrual Cycle: Role of Progesterone.

The goal of the current study was to characterize the immune cell types within the primate corpus luteum (CL). Luteal tissue was collected from rhesus females at discrete intervals during the luteal phase of the natural menstrual cycle. Dispersed cells were incubated with fluorescently labeled antibodies specific for the immune cell surface proteins CD11b (neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages), CD14 (monocytes/macrophages), CD16 (natural killer [NK] cells), CD20 (B-lymphocytes), and CD3epsilon (T-lymphocytes) for analysis by flow cytometry.

Quantification of dynamic changes to blood volume and vascular flow in the primate corpus luteum during the menstrual cycle.

Background: The objective of the current study was to determine changes to vascular parameters of nonhuman primate dominant ovarian structures by dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US).

Materials And Methods: Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound with intravenous microbubble infusion was performed on the rhesus macaque ovary bearing the pre-ovulatory follicle and corpus luteum (CL) sequentially during the natural luteal phase (n = 8) and GnRH antagonist (antide)-induced luteal regression (n = 6).

Results: Changes in luteal blood volume (BV) and vascular flow (VF) were observed between stages of the luteal phase Luteal BV was highest in early stage CL, before decreasing 2.

Changes in circulating levels and ratios of angiopoietins during pregnancy but not during the menstrual cycle and controlled ovarian stimulation.

Objective: To determine whether angiopoietin (ANGPT)-1 and -2 are detectable in the circulation of nonhuman primates and women and whether these levels fluctuate in association with ovarian activity.

Design: Prospective.

Setting: National Primate Research Center, medical center, and infertility clinic.

Expression and role of the corticotropin-releasing hormone/urocortin-receptor-binding protein system in the primate corpus luteum during the menstrual cycle.

CRH/urocortin-receptor-binding protein (CRH/UCN-R-BP) mRNAs are dynamically expressed in the primate ovary during the menstrual cycle. Therefore, studies were designed to localize CRH/UCN-R-BP mRNAs to ovarian cell types, quantitate protein expression during the corpus luteum (CL) lifespan, and investigate the role of this system in the macaque ovary at midcycle. Monkey ovaries were removed during the preovulatory phase and through the luteal phase to localize CRH/UCN-R-BP mRNAs by in situ hybridization and determine their protein levels in CL by Western blotting.

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor production by luteinized granulosa cells: comparison between polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS women.

Context: Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is a potent cytokine that promotes angiogenesis and vascular permeability. After controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) for in vitro fertilization (IVF), excessive VEGF-A production can occur, particularly in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS); however, it is unclear whether the regulation of VEGF-A production is different between PCOS and non-PCOS women.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether there were differences in the dose- and time-dependent effects of insulin and IGFs on VEGF-A production by luteinized granulosa cells (LGCs) from women with and without PCOS.

Characteristics and regulation of the ovarian cycle in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops).

This study was designed to evaluate the timecourse of ovarian and pituitary endocrine events throughout the menstrual cycle in the vervet monkey, and whether circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) or the uterus regulates the functional lifespan of the vervet corpus luteum. Daily saphenous blood samples were collected from adult females (1) during spontaneous menstrual cycles (n = 7), and (2) during cycles in which a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (acyline) was administered for 3 days at midluteal phase (n = 3), and (3) for 30 days following recovery from hysterectomy (n = 4). Estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) levels were assayed using electrochemoluminescent assays.

Circulating levels of total angiopoietin-2 and the soluble Tie-2 receptor in women during ovarian stimulation and early gestation.

Circulating levels of Ang-2 and sTie-2 receptor were detectable but invariant in women during COS cycles. During the postimplantation period, the rise in Ang-2 (but not sTie-2) levels probably reflects placental rather than luteal production.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production by the monkey corpus luteum during the menstrual cycle: isoform-selective messenger RNA expression in vivo and hypoxia-regulated protein secretion in vitro.

Experiments were designed to investigate the expression and regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the primate corpus luteum (CL) throughout the luteal life span in the natural menstrual cycle. Corpora lutea were collected during the early (ECL; Days 3-5 post-LH surge), mid (MCL; Day 6-8 post-LH surge), mid-late (MLCL; Days 10-12 post-LH surge), late (LCL; Days 14-16 post-LH surge), and very late (Days 17- 18 post-LH surge) luteal phase. Specific primers were designed to amplify mRNAs encoding VEGF isoforms 206, 189, 183, 165, 145, and 121.

Controlled ovulation of the dominant follicle: a critical role for LH in the late follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.

Background: A method was sought to control ovulation of the dominant follicle and to test the importance of LH during the late follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Menstrual cycles of rhesus monkeys were monitored, and treatment initiated at the late follicular phase (after dominant follicle selection, before ovulation).

Methods: The 2-day treatment consisted of GnRH antagonist plus either r-hFSH and r-hLH (1:1 or 2:1 dose ratio) or r-hFSH alone.

Injection of antiangiogenic agents into the macaque preovulatory follicle: disruption of corpus luteum development and function.

Ovulation and conversion of the follicle into the corpus luteum involve remarkable changes in vascular permeability and neovascularization of the luteinizing granulosa layer. To evaluate the importance of these vascular events in follicle rupture and luteal development, sequential experiments were designed in which vehicle or angiogenic inhibitors (TNP-470 or angiostatin) were injected directly into the preovulatory follicle of rhesus monkeys during spontaneous menstrual cycles. After control injections, 13 of 14 animals exhibited serum levels of progesterone (P) during the subsequent luteal phase that were comparable to untreated animals in our colony.