ANGIOGENESIS AND THE EXPRESSION OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTORIN ENDOMETRIUM AND PLACENTA

PROBLEM: The demand for increased angiogenesis and microvascular perme ability during cyclical changes in the endometrium and during placenta tion raises the possibility that aberrations in these events could lea d to suboptimal reproductive performance. However, relatively little i s presently known regarding the regulation of vascular growth and perm eability in these tissues. METHOD OF STUDY: This review of current lit erature focuses on the expression, regulation, and potential physiolog ical effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) within endom etrial and placental tissue. RESULTS: Spatial and temporal expression of VEGF as well as its restricted specificity, essential role in vascu logenesis/angiogenesis, and ability to induce vascular permeability ma kes VEGF an attractive regulator of vascular growth and permeability i n the endometrium and placenta, CONCLUSION: A better understanding of the production, regulation, and physiological responses of the vascula ture to angiogenic growth factors may lead to new therapeutic strategi es for reproductive disturbances secondary to vascular insufficiencies within the female reproductive tract.