Rapid growth and vascularization of the human placenta are characteristic of early
pregnancy and are accomplished in an unusually hypoxic environment. Stimulation of
placental growth through hypoxia-induced angiogenesis may therefore be of particular
importance. We have previously found that several varieties of vascular endothelial growth
factor (VEGF) mRNA, including VEGF165, are present in cultured placental fibroblasts. We
hypothesized that hypoxia would increase the transcription and translation of VEGF by these …