Myometrial Microvascular Endothelial Cells (MMEC)

The myometrium is the middle layer of the uterine wall, consisting mainly of uterine smooth muscle cells, supporting stromal and vascular tissue. Its main function is to induce uterine contractions.

The myometrial microvascular endothelial cells (MMEC) of the uterine muscular layer is located between the endometrium and the uterine serous layer and the muscular layer. There is clear evidence that vascular endothelial dysfunction in the uterine muscular layer may be involved in the development of preeclampsia, in addition, its proliferation and angiogenesis may also play a role in the formation of uterine fibroids.Angiogenesis, defined as the growth of new vessels from pre-existing vessels, involves microvascular rather than large vessel endothelial cells. Cultured MMEC are a good model for in-vitro studies of uterine angiogenesis, since they have a stable phenotype and proliferative responsiveness to VEGF and bFGF for up to 14 passages.