STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF ENDOMETRIAL BLOOD-VESSELS

The endometrial blood vessels form a vascular bed with a number of unu sual properties. Unlike most adult vasculature these blood vessels und ergo constant cycles of growth and regression during the reproductive life of the female. This short review covers a number of different asp ects relating to endometrial vascular structure and function during en dometrial growth, implantation, endometrial regression and menstruatio n. Video footage from in-vivo microscopy of the rat endometrial subepi thelial capillary plexus on the morning of day 6 of pregnancy is inclu ded in the CD-ROM. This shows the dramatic changes that occur to the e ndometrial capillaries at the time of embryo implantation.