{"paper_id":"610d736f-4544-4794-8a27-d5a432dd1b58","body_text":"Abstract\nAs a tissue that exhibits rapid cyclical growth and shedding throughout the reproductive life of the female, the human endometrium provides a good model for the study of normal physiological angiogenesis. This paper will review current information on the timing of angiogenesis during the menstrual cycle, the mechanisms involved in endometrial capillary formation, and current information on angiogenesis factors and inhibitors. Based on endothelial cell proliferation studies, the timing of angiogenesis during the menstrual cycle remains unclear. The major mechanism by which endometrial capillaries are formed is probably a mixture of elongation and intussusception, with minimal evidence currently available for sprouting. Numerous angiogenesis factors have been identified in endometrium, the most well studied of which is VEGF. However, to date there is no evidence supporting a relationship between the expression of any given angiogenic factor and the occurrence of angiogenesis in the endometrium. Very limited studies have been undertaken to date on endometrial angiogenesis inhibitors, although the precursors to many of the known proteolytic fragments which act as inhibitors exist in the endometrium. In conclusion, neither the timing of vascular growth during the menstrual cycle nor the mechanisms by which endometrial vessels are formed are currently understood, thus placing major limitations on our understanding of how angiogenesis promoters and inhibitors may act in human endometrium.\nSimilar content being viewed by others\nReferences\nTorry RJ, Rongish BJ. Angiogenesis in the uterus: potential regulation and relation to tumor angiogenesis. Am J Reprod Immuno 1992: 27, 171–179.\nGoodger (Macpherson) AM, Rogers PAW. Blood vessel growth in the endometrium. 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Matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in endometrial remodelling and menstruation. Reprod Med Rev 1996; 5, 185–203.\nAuthor information\nAuthors and Affiliations\nRights and permissions\nAbout this article\nCite this article\nRogers, P., Gargett, C. Endometrial angiogenesis. Angiogenesis 2, 287–294 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009222030539\nIssue date:\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009222030539","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}