Does cabergoline administration affect endometrial VEGFR-2 expression in a rat model of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome?

• Main Authors: Nafiye Yilmaz (Author), Pinar Gulsen Coban (Author), Saynur Yilmaz (Author), Hasan Ali Inal (Author), Hakan Timur (Author), Hacer Haltas (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group, 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1080/09513590.2023.2217295; 1473-0766; 0951-3590
• Keywords: Cabergoline; implantation; ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome; rat model; VEGFR-2; Gynecology and obstetrics; RG1-991; Diseases of the endocrine glands. Clinical endocrinology; RC648-665
• Source: Gynecological Endocrinology, Vol 39, Iss 1 (2023)

Objective To assess the effect of cabergoline on endometrial vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) immunoexpression in an ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) rat model.Material and Methods Twenty-one immature female Wistar rats were assigned into three groups: group 1, the control group; group 2, stimulated with gonadotropins to mimic OHSS; and group 3, in which an OHSS protocol was induced and thereafter treated with cabergoline (100 μg/kg/day). Body weight, ovarian volume, corpora lutea numbers, and endometrial VEGFR-2 expression were compared between the groups.Results Weight gain and ovarian volume were highest in the OHSS-placebo group, while cabergoline administration significantly reversed those effects (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). VEGFR-2 stained cells were significantly lower in groups 2 and 3 compared to group 1 (p = 0.002). Although VEGFR-2 expression was lowest in group 3, the difference was not statistically significant. Corpora lutea numbers were also similar (p = 0.465).Conclusion While successful implantation requires a vascularized receptive endometrium, impaired expression of VEGFR-2 and disrupted endometrial angiogenesis due to cabergoline administration may be associated with IVF failure in fresh OHSS cycles. The insignificant decrease in endometrial VEGFR-2 expression observed in this research needs to be investigated by further studies involving additional techniques such as immunoblotting and/or RT-PCR analyses.