Effects of mifepristone on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiogenesis in chorionic villi during early pregnancy

Objective: To explore the mechanism of mifepristone used for termination of early pregnancy. Methods: Using immunohistnochemistry, we evaluated the intensity and difference of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD34 expression and microvessel density (MVD)in chorionic villi in two groups, which one is mifepristone medical abortion group(group A, n=30) and the other one is artificial abortion control group(group B, n=30). Results: The expression level of VEGF, CD34 and MVD were significantly lower in chorionic villi of mifepristone medical abortion group than those in control group (all P0.01). Conclusion: Mifepristone can reduce, by means of antiprogesterone, the VEGF expression in chorionic villi of early gestation, resulting in unhealthful formation of vessel and the restrained growth of embryo, which consequently fails the normal pregnancy in early.