Endometrial Lymphangiogensis

Immunohistochemistry showing reduced endometrial lymphatics in functionalis (upper left) compared to basalis (upper right). Lymphatic vessels identified by D2–40 (blue). Mid left panel shows D2–40 lymphatics with smooth muscle actin (brown). Mid right panel shows serial section stained with anti-CD31 which identifies blood and lymphatic vessels. Lower panel shows lymphatic vessels intimately associated with a spiral arteriole in the basalis. Gl, gland; Lym, lymphatic; BV, blood vessel; SA, spiral arteriole.

VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGF-R3 expression in normal endometrium across the menstrual cycle. VEGF-C was primarily localised within the endometrial glands (a) while VEGF-D distribution was heterogeneous throughout the endometrial and myometrial tissues (b). By Western analysis expression of the 58kD peptide of VEGF-C was significantly increased during the proliferative phase compared to the secretory phase. The remaining VEGF-C peptides (41kD, 31kD and 21kD) were not significantly altered across the cycle (c). VEGF-D peptides (56kD, 41kD, 31kD and 21kD) were unchanged across the normal cycle (d). VEGF-R3 peptides (148kD and 65kD) were not significantly changed across the normal cycle (e). Magnification a–b, bar=100μm. g, glands; m, myometrium (from Ref. [28], Donoghue JF, Lederman FL, Susil BJ and Rogers PAW, Lymphangiogensis of Normal Endometrium and Endometrial Adenocarcinoma. Human Reproduction, 2007;22:1705–13. © European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press/Human Reproduction).