title: Human first-trimester decidua vascular density: an immunohistochemical study using VE-cadherin and endoglin as endothelial cell markers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Angiogenesis and vasculogenesis appear to be of critical importance for the success of pregnancy. Recent data have emphasized that pregnancy complications, such as abortion or pre-eclampsia, are linked with vascular pathologies. The aim of this study was to quantify human first-trimester decidua microvascular density, using two novel, highly specific endothelial cell markers, VE-cadherin and endoglin.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected decidua from women undergoing termination of normal pregnancies. VE-cadherin and endoglin were localized by immunohistochemistry. The blood vessel densities detected by VE-cadherin or endoglin-stainings were microscopically quantified per mm2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endothelial cells in first-trimester human decidua both express VE-cadherin and endoglin. The microvascular density detected by VE-cadherin-staining varied from 32.2 +/- 1.7 in decidua basalis, to 30 +/- 0.6 in decidua parietalis. For the endoglin-staining, the values varied from 37.5 +/- 3 in decidua basalis, and 26.7 +/- 1.2 in decidua parietalis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data shows that both VE-cadherin and endoglin are good candidates to highlight the decidual endothelial cells, and to quantify the blood vessels density of endometrium.
authors.affiliation: Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vailhé
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapp
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dietl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arck
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D003656:Decidua / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D000071063:Endoglin; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D000099152:Cadherin 5
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D000071063:Endoglin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D000099152:Cadherin 5; C064206:ENG protein, human