title: Differential expression of vascular endothelial growth factor angiogenic factors in different endometrial compartments in women who have an elevated progesterone level before oocyte retrieval, during in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between endometrial expressions of angiogenic factors around the time of embryo implantation and P level before oocyte retrieval during IVF-ET treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Assisted Reproductive Unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients were recruited, 20 women with an elevated P level, and 20 women with a normal P level, into cancelled embryo transfer (ET) cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endometrial biopsy samples were obtained from women who had an elevated or normal P level 7 days after human chorionic gonadotropin administration. The protein expression levels of VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and PLGF were examined using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  A semiquantitative analysis was performed using histochemical-score analysis of staining intensity in the luminal epithelium, glandular epithelium, and stroma, separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Luminal epithelial expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, VEGF-C, and PLGF did not significantly differ in women with elevated or normal P levels before oocyte retrieval. Glandular epithelial expression of VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and PLGF was higher in women with elevated P levels, compared with those with normal P levels. A significantly higher stromal expression of VEGF-A and PLGF was found in women with elevated P levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high P level before oocyte retrieval was associated with expression of VEGF angiogenic factors in glandular epithelium and stromal compartment around the time of embryo implantation. Our findings suggest that the lower implantation rates observed in this group of women may relate to decreased endometrial receptivity arising from altered expression of angiogenic factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chi Wai
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Man
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chi Chiu
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zhangsongying@126.com.
authors.forename: Songying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tin Chiu
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011374:Progesterone
keywords: Implantation; angiogenesis; endometrium; progesterone