Immunohistochemical detection of transforming growth factor-α, epidermal growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in hyperstimulated rat ovary

Objective. The aim of the present study is to figure out the immunohistochemical expression of transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hyperstimulated rat ovaries. Methods. Twenty Wistar-Albino adult female rats (250-300 g) were taken into the study. The animals were randomly divided into two groups, each containing 10 rats: (i) stimulation group and (ii) control group. In the stimulation group, a stimulation regimen was administered to induce follicular maturity and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) at the end using a 30-IU follicle-stimulating hormone that was administered subcutaneously for 4 consecutive days, followed by a 30-IU human chorionic gonadotropin on day 5 to induce ovulation. The rats, in the control group, received 0.2 ml of 0.9% NaCl for 5 consecutive days to mimic the conditions of the study animals. At the end of the treatment period, all rats underwent ovariectomy and the sections of ovaries were stain...