Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A and its receptor-1 in a luteal endometrium in patients with repeated in vitro fertilization failure.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate temporal and spatial relationships of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and its receptor (VEGFR-1) expression in a luteal endometrium obtained from patients with repeated IVF failure.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Thirty-three regular-cycling infertile women (mean age, 34.4 years) who experienced three or more failed IVF cycles (range, 3-14 cycles).


METHODS
Endometrial samplings by silastic suction curette in the luteal phase of a spontaneous unmedicated cycle.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical intensity scoring after staining by monoclonal anti-VEGF-A and polyclonal anti-VEGFR-1. Microvascular density determined after staining by monoclonal anti-CD31 antibody. The data were compared in three phases; early (cycle day [CD]16-19) (n = 12), mid- (CD20-24) (n = 13), and late luteal phase (CD25-27) (n = 8).


RESULTS
Expression of VEGF-A tended to be lower in midluteal endometrium at epithelial, stromal, and endothelial cells. Expression of VEGFR-1 at epithelial cells was highest in midluteal endometrium, but VEGFR-1 at stroma and endothelium and microvascular density continuously decreased throughout luteal-phase endometrium.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to previous reports, VEGF-A expression was not highest in the midluteal phase in repeated IVF failure patients who had no apparent endometrial pathology. Further research is needed to determine whether different VEGF-A expression patterns in the luteal phase contribute to repeated IVF failure.
Jee
Byung Chul
BC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Suh
Chang Suk
CS
Kim
Ki Chul
KC
Lee
Won Don
WD
Kim
Haeryoung
H
Kim
Seok Hyun
SH
D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1