Endometrial angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis

Abstract

The vasculature and lymphatics of the human endometrium undergo constant and major remodelling during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. While predominantly under the overall control of estrogen and progesterone, regulation of endometrial angiogenesis is complex, with no clear understanding of the precise role played by many of the angiogenic factors or inhibitors expressed in endometrium. A number of different studies have shown that nearly all of the basic mechanisms of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis described in other tissues, also occur in endometrium. This includes evidence from animal models for a role for circulating leukocytes both in estrogen driven angiogenesis, and vascular re..