Behavior of vascular endothelial growth factor and erythropoietin throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate any correlations between erythropoietin (EPO) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in the serum and the menstrual fluid of healthy women during the different phases of the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Blood samples from 25 healthy female volunteers were obtained for serum VEGF and EPO detection on the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st and 25th days of the menstrual cycle. Menstrual fluid samples for VEGF and EPO detection were obtained on the 1st and 4th days of menstruation.


RESULTS
Circulating VEGF levels were found to increase in a stage-dependent cyclic manner. The mean VEGF concentration in menstrual blood on the 1st day of the cycle was significantly higher than the mean plasma value and was reduced to a significant extent on the 4th day of the cycle. We found no significant changes in serum EPO levels. Mean EPO concentration detected in menstrual blood was comparable to those in serum blood either on the 1st or 4th day of the menstrual cycle.


CONCLUSIONS
During menstruation, a local production of VEGF occurs independent of systemic production, thus sustaining angiogenic activity in autonomous, independent ways. Our findings demonstrate the presence of an "open compartment" that reflects the systemic pattern of EPO at the uterine level that allows us to speculate on different effects beyond the angiogenic action of EPO.
Caccamo
Chiara
C
Departments of Internal Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Nostro
Lorena
L
Giorgianni
Giovanna
G
Mondello
Stefania
S
Crascì
Eleonora
E
Frisina
Nicola
N
Buemi
Michele
M
D000328:Adult; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D008598:Menstruation / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D004921:Erythropoietin