Effect of sex steroid hormones on serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a murine model.

e21097 Background: There is an increasing interest in knowing the relationship between sexual hormones and the mechanisms that regulate angiogenesis. This association and the potential regulatory pathways may have important therapeutical implications in the management of hormone-dependent tumors. Objective: To determine how sex steroid hormones alone and in combination change the serum levels of VEGF in a murine animal model. Methods: We analyzed serum levels of VEGF (Quantikine VEGF rat inmunoassay ref: RRVV00) in 30 male Wistar cyclic orchiectomized rats and 70 female oophorectomised rats. The animals were pretreated with subcutaneous placement of hormonal silastic capsules (Dow Corninc Midland, MI). Extraction was performed on day +7, as well as diestrous and late proestrous phases. Results: For male rats, highest levels of VEGF were obtained in those treated with estrogen compared to the control group and treated with testosterone. For female rats, highest serum levels of VEGF were obtained in those t...