Vascular endothelial growth factor and thrombosponding involved in ectopic endometrium

Objective To investigate the function of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and thrombospondins(TSP) in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Methods Thirty samples of eutopic and ectopic endometrium were biopsied from 30 patients with endometriosis(EM group),and 14 normal samples of eutopic endometrium were biopsied from 14 women without endometriosis(NE group).VEGF and TSP were examined by S-P immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization in two groups.VEGF mRNA were examined by in situ hybridization analysis. Results Expression of VEGF,VEGF mRNA in ectopic endometrium were higher than that in eucopic endometrium with and without endometriosis.Expression of TSP in ectopic endometrium had no significant difference compared with eucopic endometrium with and without endometriosis. Conclusion VEGF might be involved in the development of endometriosis and its biological behavior.