title: The effect of high-dose medium- and long- term progestogen exposure on endometrial vessels.
abstract: A total of 19 paraffin-embedded endometrial tissue blocks were obtained from high-dose progestogen-exposed patients. A labelled streptavidin-biotin-alkaline phosphatase method was used with antibodies against von Willebrand factor (vWF) and CD34. The density of CD34 and vWF positive (CD34+ and vWF+) vessels in progestogen-exposed endometria (103 +/- 9.6/mm2 and 106 +/- 8.7/mm2) was significantly lower than in endometria from women with normal cycles (169 +/- 9.3/mm2 and 136 +/- 8.0/mm2) (P < 0.05). In women with normal menstrual cycles the concentration of CD34+ vessels was significantly higher than the number of vWF+ vessels (P = 0.0001). By comparison, the concentration of CD34+ vessels was similar to the concentration of vWF+ vessels in progestogen-exposed endometria. The ratios of vascular density as determined by vWF+ and CD34+ staining the control and progestogen groups were 0.81 and 1.05 respectively (P = 0.0001). Dilated venules were seen in the progestogen group. This study has demonstrated firstly that CD34 antibody detected the endothelial cells in a higher proportion of small endometrial vessels than vWF, and secondly that high-dose progestogen exposure significantly decreased the density of microvessels and increased the number of dilated venules in endometrium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Markham
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D011372:Progestins; D014841:von Willebrand Factor