Higher expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR-2 (Flk-1) and metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in a rat model of peritoneal endometriosis is similar to cancer diseases

Table 1 Histological scores of Von Willebrand Factor (vWF), alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin (α-SMA), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Kinase Domain Receptor (Flk-1) and ED-1-macrophage in eutopic endometrium and endometriotic lesions after15 and 30 days.

Cases	vWF (number of vessels/mm²)	α-SMA (number of vessels/mm²)	VEGF (% of positive staining cells)	Flk-1 (% of positive staining cells)	ED-1 (number of macrophage/mm²)
Eutopic endometrium	8.1 ± 0.73	5.1 ± 0.73	5.68 ± 0.10	6.46 ± 0.12	7.6 ± 1.07
Endometriosis 15 days	21.5 ± 1.35^a	11.3 ± 1.15^a	8.52 ± 0.19^a	9.81 ± 0.11^a	34.2 ± 0.78^a
Endometriosis 30 days	20.6 ± 0.84^a	19.2 ± 1.03^{a b}	8.43 ± 0.12^a	10.31 ± 0.18^a	40.2 ± 1.03^a

^a P < 0.05 (the scores for all markers are significantly higher in endometriotic lesions compared to eutopic endometrium).
^b P < 0.05 (the scores are significantly higher in endometriotic lesions after 30 days for α-SMA compared to lesions with 15 days).
Values are mean ± standard error.