P-185: Expression and Function of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Fallopian Tuben Carrying Ectopic Pregnancy

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic growth factor that is produced by different tissues, including the endometrium and ovary. VEGF is involved in many processes related to reproductive physiology, including angiogenesis, which is essential for implantation and placentation. It has been suggested that VEGF may be the angiogenic factor responsible for the implantation and placentation of ectopic pregnancy (EP). EP is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo implants outside the uterine cavity, usually in fallopian tube (FT). Thus we investigate the role of VEGF in tubal EP. Materials and Methods: Biopsies from Isthmus, Ampulla and Infundibulum of FT were obtained from case and control groups. Case group was women who underwent salpingectomy for EP. Control group was women with healthy tube who underwent hysterectomy for benign gynaecological conditions. For control group, Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was injected in 14 days leading up to hysterectomy to produce a state of pseudo-pregnancy. In this study, VEGF expression was investigate with RT-PCR in Infundibulum, Ampulla and Isthmus. Pseudo-pregnant and EP groups were compared with Q- PCR for VEGF gene. Results: RT-PCR has shown VEGF gene expression in Isthmus, Ampulla and Infundibulum of FT in both case and control groups. Variable expression of this gene was observed in all regions of FT carrying EP compared with control group by Q-PCR. Conclusion: Expression of VEGF is stimulated by tissue hypoxia. It is likely that implantation in the unfavourable FT would be associated with increased tissue hypoxia which results in variation of the expression of VEGF in tubal EP.