Table 1.

Role of VEGF in embryo implantation. PlGF, placental growth factor, VEGFR-2, VEGF receptor-2.

VEGF Family Members	Function
Endometrial receptivity
VEGF	Promotes endometrial angiogenesis and vascular permeability [59,60]
VEGF	Monocyte activation [54]
VEGF	Recruitment and activation of macrophages [32,56]
PlGF	Monocyte activation [53]
PlGF	Recruitment and activation of macrophages [55]
PlGF	Proliferation and differentiation of uNK cells [57]
PlGF	Differentiation and maturation of dendritic cells; skews type 1 T helper immune response to the Th2 phenotype [58]
Embryo development
VEGF	Development of the perifollicular capillary network [61].
VEGF	Formation of and hormone production by corpus luteum [62,63]
VEGF	Regulates oviduct mobility [64]
VEGF	Regulates oviductal fluid secretion [65,66]
VEGF	Increases blastocyst yield and blastocyst cell numbers, enhances blastocyst outgrowth, and reduces cavitation time [39,67,68]
PlGF	Increases blastocyst cell numbers and enhances blastocyst outgrowth [47]
Embryo implantation
VEGF	Improves endometrial epithelial cells’ adhesion ability and increases implantation rates [39,67]
VEGF	Embryo-derived VEGF stimulates angiogenesis at the implantation site [69]
VEGFR-2	Interacts with integrin αvβ3 [70]
PlGF	Improves endometrial epithelial cells’ adhesion ability [47]