The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in the endometrium during the peri-implantation period in women with and without polyps.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective study was designed to determine whether the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the endometrial tissue obtained from the peri-implantation period of women with endometrial polyp (EP) differs from that of control subjects without a polyp.


METHODS
Endometrial samples were collected from 30 patients with EP and 30 control subjects without EP, in the mid-secretory phase. The expression of COX-2 and VEGF in the endometrium was examined with the use of immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
COX-2 and VEGF were predominantly expressed in endometrial glands. The expression of COX-2 and VEGF in the endometrium obtained from women with EP was lower than that of control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduced expression of COX-2 and VEGF in the endometrium of women with EP may account for the association between EP and infertility.
Hysterosopic Center, Fuxing Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , P. R. China.
Y
Y
Xiao
X
X
Peng
N
N
Ma
T C
TC
Li
E
E
Xia
D000328:Adult; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011127:Polyps / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2