K., KarthiayiniD., SUPRIYARAJ2021-01-072021-01-072016-07-05https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810159330The aim of the present study was to quantify the relative gene expression levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and its biological receptor, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) in Granulosa cells (GCs) of medium (Gp-I; 3-5mm diameter) and large (Gp-II; >5mm diameter) goat ovarian follicles, by real-time PCR. Quantification of Progesterone (P4) and Estradiol-17β (E2) was also performed in the follicular fluid (FF) of two different follicular groups by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pooled samples (n=7) of FF from two groups of follicles were used for the study. The results showed that the mean relative expression levels of VEGF and VEGFR-2 mRNA in GCs of Gp-II follicles was higher when compared to Gp-I follicles but it was non-significant (p>0.05). The mean (± S.E) increase in relative expression values of VEGF and VEGFR-2 was 1.47 ± 0.78 and 3.84 ± 2.51 respectively. The follicular fluid P4 and E2 concentration was significantly (p≤0.05) higher in the Gp-II follicles than the Gp-I follicles. The mean (± S.E) P4 concentration (ng/mL) in FF of Gp-I and Gp-II follicles were 10.56 ± 2.3 and 20.53 ± 3.82 respectively. The mean (± S.E) E2 concentration (ng/ml) in FF of Gp-I and Gp-II were 12.08±2.78 and 22.08±1.97 respectively. The study revealed the GCs VEGF do not play a significant role in transition of medium (3-5mm) to large (>5mm) follicle in caprines. Increase in concentration of E2 with the follicle size might be due to increase in number of GCs with increase in the size of follicle because GCs are the principal site of aromatization activity which enhanced the production of E2. Similarly, increase in P4 concentration in Gp-II follicles might be due to the production of P4 in the synthetic pathway of follicular production of E2.EnglishThesis