Human First-Trimester Decidua Vascular Density: An Immunohistochemical Study Using VE-Cadherin and Endoglin as Endothelial Cell Markers

PROBLEM: Angiogenesis and vasculogenesis appear to be of critical importance for the success of pregnancy. Recent data have emphasized that pregnancy complications, such as abortion or pre‐eclampsia, are linked with vascular pathologies. The aim of this study was to quantify human first‐trimester decidua microvascular density, using two novel, highly specific endothelial cell markers, VE‐cadherin and endoglin. METHOD OF STUDY: We collected decidua from women undergoing termination of normal pregnancies. VE‐cadherin and endoglin were localized by immunohistochemistry. The blood vessel densities detected by VE‐cadherin or endoglin‐stainings were microscopically quantified per mm2. RESULTS: Endothelial cells in first‐trimester human decidua both express VE‐cadherin and endoglin. The microvascular density detected by VE‐cadherin‐staining varied from 32.2±1.7 in decidua basalis, to 30±0.6 in decidua parietalis. For the endoglin‐staining, the values varied from 37.5±3 in decidua basalis, and 26.7±1.2 in decidua parietalis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data shows that both VE‐cadherin and endoglin are good candidates to highlight the decidual endothelial cells, and to quantify the blood vessels density of endometrium.