Lipid-rich residual bodies and cathepsin D in the human uterus: ultrastructural and quantitative comparison between normal myometrium and leiomyoma.
The lipid-rich residual bodies (LRRB) (Eyden et al., 1991) in human myometrium and uterine leiomyoma cells, have a distinctive ultrastructure characterised by a rich lipid content. To evaluate the biological or pathological significance in detail, normal myometrium and uterine leiomyoma from 30 human cases were studied by conventional histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic methods. The study included a quantitative analysis of LRRBs of 3 premenarchic cases, 19 cases having a menstrual cycle, and 8 cases in menopause, in addition to 20 patients with histologically conventional leiomyoma larger than 3 cm in diameter. The study revealed the following findings: 1) immunohistochemical distribution of cathepsin D in the LRRB; 2) histochemical demonstration of neutral fat as the main content of LRRB; 3) statistically significant decrease in the distribution of LRRB in leiomyoma tissue compared with normal myometrium; 4) an absence or minimal distribution of LRRB in premenarchic myometrium; 5) a moderately significant correlation between the frequency of LRRB and patient's age. The distribution of cathepsin D within LRRB and the differential expression of LRRBs in the various smooth muscle cell tissues of the uterus suggest a possible role of ovarian hormones in the genesis of LRRBs which may function in the intra-lysosomal degradation of organelles produced during hormonal cycling.
Yamazaki
K
K
Department of Pathology, Tokyo Teishin Hospital, Japan.
Yakumaru
K
K
Eyden
B P
BP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015388:Organelles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014599:Uterus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology
D008055:Lipids; D002402:Cathepsin D