Ultrastructural comparison of endometriotic implants and eutopic endometrium.
Ultrastructural features of endometriotic implants suggest an incomplete response to the prevalent hormonal milieu. The cyclic changes, especially in the secretory phase, appear to depend more on the morphologic differentiation of the ectopic implants than on the hormonal stimulus. The endometriotic tissue encompassed a wide range of morphologic development from poorly to highly differentiated glands. Variations occurred from gland to gland and even within the same gland. Complete proliferative development was found only in some of the patients and full secretory transformation was absent in all. The incomplete morphologic response to cyclic hormonal changes may explain the frequent failure of endocrine therapy.
D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure