title: Expression of the vascular endothelial growth factors B and C and their receptors in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endometrial angiogenesis is important for bleeding control and fertility, and is believed to be regulated by angiogenic growth factors under the influence of ovarian steroids.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To document the pattern of expression of the two angiogenic growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-B and VEGF-C, and of their receptors, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3, in order to investigate their possible role in the regulation of angiogenesis in normal cycling human endometrium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cryosections of endometrial biopsy specimens obtained from 17 healthy women before laparoscopic sterilization were examined by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vascular endothelial growth factor and VEGF-C and their receptors were all expressed in and around endometrial blood vessels, with no obvious menstrual cycle-dependent changes in expression except for VEGFR-2, which showed stronger expression during the early secretary phase. Stromal blood vessel density did not change significantly during the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence and pattern of expression of these angiogenic growth factors and their receptors suggest that they participate in the regulation of normal endometrial angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women and Children's Health, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindblom
authors.forename: Matts
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olovsson
mesh_terms: D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D042561:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor