Adhesive potential of the shed endometrial cells in menstrual fluid using amniotic membrane: establishment of in-vitro model for pathogenesis of endometriosis

Koong, Mi Kyoung; Jun, Jin Hyun; Kim, Eun Soo; Ko, Kyoung Nam; Hong, Soo Jeong; Song, Ji Hong; Yoo, Keun Jai; Kang, Inn Soo

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the shed endometrial tissues in menstrual fluid (MF) have adhesive potentials, using human amniotic membrane (AM).
METHODS
The MF from 20 patients with regular menstruation was collected with Wallace catheter by aspiration from the uterine cavity on the second or third day of the menstrual period. The AM was obtained from the placenta of term delivery without any complication. The MF was washed and diluted fivefold with Hams F-10 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. The cell suspension was placed on either epithelial layer (EP) or extracellular matrix layer (ECM) of the AM. After 5 days of culture, the adhesion sites were observed under a stereomicroscope. For histological observation, each cultured AM was prepared for the serial paraffin section.
RESULTS
The adhesion sites of endometrial tissues in MF were found both ECM (20/20) and EP (11/20) of the AM. The size of adhesion sites in each AM were highly variable from microscopic to macroscopic size.
CONCLUSION
We found that the shed endometrial tissues in MF have adhesive potential to epithelial layer in addition to extracellular matrix layer of amniotic membrane. This adhesive potential may be related to pathogenesis of endometriosis. We suggest that this culture system can be useful as an in-vitro model for endometriosis.