Evidence for the presence of angiogenin in human follicular fluid and the up-regulation of its production by human chorionic gonadotropin and hypoxia

Angiogenesis is an essential event during the development of the ovarian fo llicle and ensuing formation of the corpus luteum. We investigated the pres ence of angiogenin, a potent inducer of angiogenesis, and the regulatory me chanisms of its production in the human ovary. Follicular fluid (FF) and gr anulosa cells (GCs) were collected from women undergoing in vitro fertiliza tion and embryo transfer. The presence of angiogenin in FF and GCs was demo nstrated by Western blot analysis. The production of angiogenin by cultured GCs was stimulated with the addition of human CG or cAMP or under the hypo xic milieu. Concentrations of angiogenin in FF from an individual follicle were positively correlated with those of progesterone, but not estradiol an d testosterone. Given the presence of angiogenin in FF and up-regulation of its production by human CG and hypoxia, it seems logical to assume that an giogenin may play a role as a local angiogenic factor in the human ovary.