Ultrastructure of the microvasculature in human endometrial hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine the effect of hyperplasia on cell-to-cell communication in the microvasculature of the human endometrium.


METHODS
Ten biopsy specimens of simple and complex hyperplasia of the human endometrium were investigated by electron microscopy.


RESULTS
The microvasculature of the hyperplastic endometrium shows morphologic disorder. The extracellular matrix is altered, and cell death is widespread. Intercellular contact is infrequent or absent.


CONCLUSIONS
These results are in marked contrast to the ultrastructure of the normal microvasculature. The complex cell-to-cell interaction observed in normal tissue appears lost. This report, combined with others, indicates that cell-to-cell contact is sparse in hyperplastic endometrium.
Horbelt
D V
DV
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wesley Medical Center 67214-4976, USA.
Roberts
D K
DK
Parmley
T H
TH
Walker
N J
NJ
D002196:Capillaries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002450:Cell Communication; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron