Fig. 1

Expression of vascular cell markers and hCG in and morphological flexibility of hCG-treated OVCAR-3 cells. a, b Expression levels of vascular markers CD31, VEGF, factor VIII, hCG, and HIF-1α were determined in OVCAR-3 cells exposed to 50, 500, or 5000 mU/ml hCG for 7 days. HCG treatment stimulated the expression of vascular markers and HIF-1α in OVCAR-3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. a The mRNA levels were analysed by RT-PCR. b Protein levels were detected by western blotting. c, d Band densities were quantified by densitometric analysis. Protein and mRNA content was quantified for 3 independent replicates and the data are presented as the mean ± SD. The data shown are presented after normalization with GAPDH expression and were analysed using 1-way ANOVA. *p < 0.01, ^#p < 0.05. e Light and scanning-electron microscopy observations showed tubular network and channel formation by OVCAR-3 cells in the 3D matrix after exposure to 5000 mU/ml hCG. Representative morphological changes are shown