Korean J Obstet Gynecol.
2002 May;45(5):774-780.
The Endometrial Expression of Endoglin in women with Endometriosis
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To compare the angiogenic activities of endothelial cells in the eutopic endometrium of women with and without endometriosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty women with histologically confirmed endometriosis after laparotomy or laparoscopy were recruited. Twenty women with carcinoma in situ of uterine cervix, but no evidence of endometriosis served as control. All sections were stained by immunohistochemistry using anti-human endoglin monoclonal antibody and positively stained microvessels were counted in 5 areas at X 200 magnification field following selection of areas of densest vascularity at low magnification field. Results were analyzed with Mann Whitney U-test, and statistical significance was defined as p<0.05.
RESULTS
Including all menstrual phases, the mean number of vessels with endoglin expression was significantly greater in those with endometriosis compared with controls. In each menstrual phase, significant difference was observed only during the late secretory phase. Within the endometriosis group, the mean numbers of vessels with endoglin expression in stages I and II were not different from stages III and IV.
CONCLUSION
This study shows the expression of endoglin in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis is significantly increased and the increase is observed only in the late secretory phase. It is suggested from these findings that activation of angiogenesis in the eutopic endometrium might be a key factor in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
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