Hypoxia regulates vascular endothelial growth factor and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 secretion by human oviductal epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of hypoxia on the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) in the human fallopian tube.
DESIGN: The secretion of VEGF and sFlt-1 by cultured oviductal epithelial cells (OECs) and oviductal stromal fibroblasts (OSFs) in response to hypoxia was investigated.
SETTING: Research laboratory at a medical school. PATIENT(S): Normal oviducts obtained from seven premenopausal patients were used. INTERVENTION(S): Oviductal epithelial cells and OSFs were incubated under normoxic (20% O2) or hypoxic (2% O2) conditions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The concentrations of VEGF and sFlt-1 in the culture media of OECs and OSFs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULT(S): The secretion of both VEGF and sFlt-1 was detected in cultured OECs and OSFs and was found to have been stimulated under hypoxic conditions in these cells. CONCLUSION(S): The present findings suggest that hypoxia in the local environment may stimulate oviductal vascular permeability by inducing the production of VEGF by oviductal cells. Simultaneous up-regulation of sFlt-1 secretion by these cells under hypoxic conditions may prevent excessive up-regulation of vascular permeability. The modulation of the bias of VEGF and sFlt-1 in the fallopian tubes may contribute to the normal and pathological processes of oviductal fluid secretion by regulating oviductal vascular permeability during the menstrual cycle.