Neutrophils infiltrating the endometrium express vascular endothelial growth factor: potential role in endometrial angiogenesis

Objective(s): To identify leukocytes within the human endometrium expressin g vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Design(s): Prospective cohort study. Setting(s): Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment. Patients(s): Twenty-one normal cycling women without abnormal menstrual ble eding or infertility. Intervention(s): Endometrial tissue collection by Pipelle de Cornier aspira tion. Main Outcome Measures(s): Histologic, immunohistochemical (CD3, CD34, CD56, CD68, neutrophil elastase, estrogen and P receptors, VEGF), and simultaneo us double immunoenzymatic labeling analysis of VEGF-positive cells within t he human endometrium. Result(s): Ten endometrial samples were obtained in the proliferative (cycl e days 5-10) and 11 samples in the secretory phase (cycle days 15-26). Immu nohistochemical analyses showed the expected distribution of the different leukocyte cell types. Besides epithelial and stromal endometrial cells, the predominant cells that stained for VEGF were neutrophil granulocytes. Neut rophils were more abundant in the secretory phase but they expressed neithe r estrogen-alpha nor P receptors. Conclusion(s): Neutrophil granulocytes infiltrating the human endometrium e xpress VEGF and regulate cyclical endometrial vascular proliferation. Ovari an steroids indirectly influence neutrophil migration. (Fertil Steril(R) 20 00;74:107-12. (C) 2000 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)