Expression and Localization of Thrombospondin-1 and -2 and Their Cell-Surface Receptor, CD36, During Rat Follicular Development and Formation of the Corpus Luteum1

Thrombospondin (TSP)-1 and -2 are extracellular matrix glycoproteins that are both antiangiogenic and important in regulating cellular development, differentiation, and function. To evaluate the expression of TSP in follicular and luteal development, ovarian cycles of Sprague-Dawley rats were synchronized and tissues collected daily at stages corresponding to the early antral, ovulatory, early luteal, and late luteal phases of the ovarian …