EXPRESSION OF PLATELET-DERIVED ENDOTHELIAL-CELL GROWTH-FACTOR AND ITSMESSENGER-RNA IN UTERINE ENDOMETRIUM DURING THE MENSTRUAL-CYCLE

Steroid hormones, e.g. progesterone and oestradiol, may be responsible for the production and expression of a variety of angiogenic growth f actors present in endometrial tissue. The expression of platelet-deriv ed endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) in neovascularization afte r regression of the microvessels in the endometrium was examined. PD-E CGF protein expression in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle w as determined by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Transcription levels o f PD-ECGF were measured by a quantitative reverse transcription-polyme rase chain reaction (RT-PCR) Southern blot technique. The data show th at levels of PD-ECGF protein and mRNA in uterine endometrium did not a lter during the proliferative phase prior to ovulation. During the mid cycle phase a sharp transient fall in mRNA revels accompanied by a gra dual drop in protein levels was observed. After ovulation transcriptio n of PD-ECGF recovered with a sharp increase in mRNA levels which pers isted during the ovulatory phase. PD-ECGF protein levels were temporar ily low after ovulation, but increased remarkably through the late sec retory phase. PD-ECGF expression in the endometrium seems to be invers ely correlated with oestradiol concentrations during the menstrual cyc le.