Endometrial cell adhesion in an in vitro model using intact amniotic membranes.
OBJECTIVE
To study adhesion between endometrial tissue and peritoneum using intact amniotic membranes as an in vitro model.


METHODS
A cell biologic and immunohistochemical study.


METHODS
Tertiary-care university medical center.


METHODS
Ten patients with regular and ovulatory cycles.


METHODS
Mechanically dissected tissue fragments from endometrial biopsies were cultured on either side of intact amniotic membranes. Also, the carcinoma cell lines RL95-2 and AN3CA were used.


METHODS
The adhesion of endometrial fragments and of endometrial carcinoma cell lines to amniotic membrane was studied in vitro and evaluated using frozen sections. The composition of the extracellular matrix and the presence of intermediate filament proteins of amniotic membrane were determined using immunohistochemistry and compared with those of normal peritoneum.


RESULTS
Peritoneum and amniotic membrane were similar with respect to expression of cytokeratins in epithelial lining and of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. The endometrial fragments did not adhere to the intact epithelial side of the amniotic membrane. In contrast, adhesion did occur to the nonepithelial side of the amnion. The carcinoma cell lines RL95-2 and AN3CA adhered to either side of intact amniotic membranes.


CONCLUSIONS
An intact epithelial lining prevents adhesion of endometrial fragments to the ECM of amniotic membranes in vitro. An intact epithelium could be important defense mechanism in preventing initial adhesion of retrogradely shed endometrium fragments to peritoneum.
van der Linden
P J
PJ
Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht, The Netherlands.
de Goeij
A F
AF
Dunselman
G A
GA
Erkens
H W
HW
Evers
J L
JL
D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000166:cytology
D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins