Vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in male fertility

Objective: To determine the concentration of vascular endothelial growth fa ctor in the seminal fluid, the presence of vascular endothelial growth fact or receptors Flt-1 and KDR in spermatozoa, and the predictive value of semi nal vascular endothelial growth factor on fertilization and the chance of p regnancy in patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or IVF. Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: Private institute (semen collection, IVF/ICSI) and academic resear ch environment (analysis of seminal fluid and spermatozoa). Patient(s): Eighty men whose spermatozoa were subsequently used for IVF or ICSI. Intervention(s): Seminal vascular endothelial growth factor was measured by an EIA. Spermatozoa were analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorter an alysis and by immunocytochemistry. Main Outcome Measure(s): Oocyte fertilization rate, pregnancy rate, and pre sence of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors on spermatozoa. Result(s): Patients with a seminal concentration of vascular endothelial gr owth factor of 2-100 ng/mL had a sixfold increased chance of pregnancy. Vas cular endothelial growth factor concentration and patient's age remained th e only independent prognostic factors for pregnancy. The concentration of v ascular endothelial growth factor did not correlate with indices of male fa ctor infertility or with the oocyte fertilization rate. Expression of vascu lar endothelial growth factor receptors (Flt-1, KDR) on spermatozoa was dem onstrated. Conclusion(s): The seminal concentration of vascular endothelial growth fac tor correlates with the chance of pregnancy in patients undergoing IVF or I CSI. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors Flt-1 and KDR were detect ed on spermatozoa for the first time. (C) 1999 by American Society for Repr oductive Medicine.