ANGIOGENESIS IN ENDOMETRIOSIS

We evaluated angiogenesis in eutopic endometrium and ectopic endometri um from patients with endometriosis. Microvessels were identified by i mmunohistochemistry using anti-von-Willebrand factor antibody and vasc ular parameters were measured using a computerized image analysis syst em. No relationship was observed between vascular density and type of endometriotic lesion. Heterogeneity in vascular density was observed i n different lesions within the same patient. Between red and black per itoneal lesions a significant difference was observed in the frequency distribution of luminal diameter. In black lesions the variability of luminal diameter was decreased and most microvessels were less than 2 0 mm in diameter. We suggest that the frequency distribution of microv essel luminal diameter of red and black peritoneal Angiogenesis lesion s may be different and should be important when studying the regulatio n of angiogenesis in endometriotic implants.