200 IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR AND ITS RECEPTORS, Flt-1 AND KDR, IN THE COLLARED PECCARY (TAYASSU TAJACU) PLACENTA
T.C. Santos A , P.C. Papa A , V. Dantzer B and M.A. Miglino AA Department of Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Brazil
B Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark. Email: miglino@usp.br
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 17(2) 249-250 https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv17n2Ab200
Submitted: 1 August 2004 Accepted: 1 October 2004 Published: 1 January 2005
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a well-known angiogenic growth factor, which has previously been localized in epitheliochorial, endotheliochorial, and hemochorial placenta types. The present study was undertaken to study the localization of VEGF and its ligands during gestation in the placenta of the Tayassu tajacu (collared peccary), which belong to the Family Tayassuidae, the super family Suoidea, and the order Artiodactyla. The 90-cm long, 30-kg collared peccary is the smallest peccary and it has a white collar around the neck. The animals are very well adapted in all Brazilian territory reproducing during all seasons of the year; it has a gestational period of 144–148 days. The placenta is diffuse and mutually folded with areola-gland subunits for absorption of uterine gland secretions. In the peccary placenta the interhemal barrier is epitheliochorial and it is andeciduated. In the present study, the VEGF and its receptors VGFR-1 and VGFR-2 or Flt-1 and KDR, respectively were immunolocalized in the epitheliochorial collared peccary placenta. The animals were obtained from Sao Pedro Farm, Sao Paulo (Brazil) and from CEMAS, Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil). Six placentae of pregnant collared peccary (60, 90, and 110 days gestation) were prepared for immunohistochemistry by routine methods. VEGF, Flt-1, and KDR exhibited intense staining in the uterine epithelium, uterine glandular epithelium, and trophoblast. The endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of the vessels in maternal and fetal compartments were also immunoreactive. In the pig placenta the VEGF-ligand-receptor system participates in placental regulations, and we have shown here that these factors occur in peccary placenta in a similar or comparable way.
This work was supported by BIOTA FAPESP, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
