Human Reproduction, Vol. 15, No. 2, 284-292,
February 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Spatially regulated differentiation of endometrial vascular smooth muscle cells
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2 Departments of Pathology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 10 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow G31 2ER, 3 Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK and 4 The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Angiogenesis within the human endometrium involves the development of arterioles and elaboration of a capillary network. It was postulated that maturation of these arterioles involves a spatially regulated process of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation. The endometrial vascular tree was therefore examined immunohistochemically for evidence of longitudinal and radial gradients of VSMC phenotype. Twenty-three hysterectomy specimens and 15 first trimester decidual tissues were studied. Five cytoskeletal markers (
and 
-smooth muscle (sm) actin, sm myosin, desmin, vimentin), three endothelial markers (CD31, CD34, factor VIII related antigen) and two steroid receptors (oestrogen and progesterone) were detected immunohistochemically. -sm actin was present throughout the wall of basal arterial segments and extended longitudinally towards the endometrial surface. Sm myosin expression was more restricted longitudinally and radially within in the vascular tree. The expression of -sm actin was even more restricted than myosin. In first trimester decidua, however, -sm actin was widely distributed within the wall of spiral arteries that were not invaded by trophoblast. Oestrogen and progesterone receptors were present in peri-vascular stromal cells but absent from vascular smooth muscle and endothelium. Endometrial VSMC differentiation involves a progressive increase in cytoskeletal complexity and occurs in a spatially regulated fashion.
Key words: angiogenesis/differentiation/endometrium/smooth muscle/vascular
5 To whom correspondence should be addressed
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  P. A. W. Rogers, J. F. Donoghue, L. M. Walter, and J. E. Girling Endometrial Angiogenesis, Vascular Maturation, and Lymphangiogenesis Reproductive Sciences, February 1, 2009; 16(2): 147 - 151. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Quenby, H. Nik, B. Innes, G. Lash, M. Turner, J. Drury, and J. Bulmer Uterine natural killer cells and angiogenesis in recurrent reproductive failure Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2009; 24(1): 45 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Plaisier, I. Dennert, E. Rost, P. Koolwijk, V.W.M. van Hinsbergh, and F.M. Helmerhorst Decidual vascularization and the expression of angiogenic growth factors and proteases in first trimester spontaneous abortions Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2009; 24(1): 185 - 197. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Palmieri, P. Loi, G. Ptak, and L.D. Salda REVIEW PAPER: A Review of the Pathology of Abnormal Placentae of Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Clone Pregnancies in Cattle, Sheep, and Mice Vet. Pathol., November 1, 2008; 45(6): 865 - 880. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Stephanie, S. Labied, S. Blacher, F. Frankenne, C. Munaut, V. Fridman, A. Beliard, J.-M. Foidart, and M. Nisolle Endometrial vessel maturation in women exposed to levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system for a short or prolonged period of time Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2007; 22(12): 3084 - 3091. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. E. Girling, F. L. Lederman, L. M. Walter, and P. A. W. Rogers Progesterone, But Not Estrogen, Stimulates Vessel Maturation in the Mouse Endometrium Endocrinology, November 1, 2007; 148(11): 5433 - 5441. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. Masuda, T. Maruyama, E. Hiratsu, J. Yamane, A. Iwanami, T. Nagashima, M. Ono, H. Miyoshi, H. J. Okano, M. Ito, et al. Noninvasive and real-time assessment of reconstructed functional human endometrium in NOD/SCID/{gamma}Formula immunodeficient mice PNAS, February 6, 2007; 104(6): 1925 - 1930. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Aitken, A. Khaund, S.A. Hamid, D. Millan, and S. Campbell The normal human myometrium has a vascular spatial gradient absent in small fibroids Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2006; 21(10): 2669 - 2678. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 U. A. Kayisli, J. Luk, O. Guzeloglu-Kayisli, Y. Seval, R. Demir, and A. Arici Regulation of Angiogenic Activity of Human Endometrial Endothelial Cells in Culture by Ovarian Steroids J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2004; 89(11): 5794 - 5802. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Print, R. Valtola, A. Evans, K. Lessan, S. Malik, and S. Smith Soluble factors from human endometrium promote angiogenesis and regulate the endothelial cell transcriptome Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2004; 19(10): 2356 - 2366. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Edlund, E. Andersson, and G. Fried Progesterone withdrawal causes endothelin release from cultured human uterine microvascular endothelial cells Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2004; 19(6): 1272 - 1280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. J. McGavigan, P. Dockery, V. Metaxa-Mariatou, D. Campbell, C. J.R. Stewart, I. T. Cameron, and S. Campbell Hormonally mediated disturbance of angiogenesis in the human endometrium after exposure to intrauterine levonorgestrel Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2003; 18(1): 77 - 84. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Krikun, H. Critchley, F. Schatz, L. Wan, R. Caze, R. N. Baergen, and C. J. Lockwood Abnormal Uterine Bleeding during Progestin-Only Contraception May Result from Free Radical-Induced Alterations in Angiopoietin Expression Am. J. Pathol., September 1, 2002; 161(3): 979 - 986. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 V. Metaxa-Mariatou, C.J. McGavigan, K. Robertson, C. Stewart, I.T. Cameron, and S. Campbell Elastin distribution in the myometrial and vascular smooth muscle of the human uterus Mol. Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2002; 8(6): 559 - 565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|