Objective: To study the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thymidine phosphorylase (TP), two angiogenic factors, in cultured endometrial stromal cells. The effects of steroids, E2, and P, the gonadotropin, hCG, and hypoxia were investigated.
Design: Quantitative experimental study.
Setting: Academic medical department.
Patient(s): Women undergoing hysterectomy for benign causes.
Intervention(s): Endometrial cells were collected from subjects and cultured.
Main outcome measure(s): The secretion of VEGF in supernatant media and the numbers of cells expressing VEGF or TP.
Result(s): Estradiol increased VEGF secretion and the number of cells that contained VEGF and TP, and those effects were inhibited by hCG. Human chorionic gonadotropin alone could increase number of cells that expressed VEGF and TP. Hypoxia increased both VEGF secretion and number of cells containing VEGF and TP. Progesterone had no observed effect on VEGF secretion or number of VEGF- or TP-containing cells.
Conclusion(s): Vascular endothelial growth factor and TP are present in stromal cells of normal endometrium, and E2 may interact with gonadotropins to regulate angiogenic compounds to modulate stromal functioning.