title: Adhesion of human endometrial fragments to peritoneum in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the adhesion of endometrial fragments obtained during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle to fresh human peritoneum obtained during abdominal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, descriptive, morphologic and cell biologic study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care university medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six female volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  After endometrial biopsies performed during diagnostic laparoscopy, endometrial fragments were generated by enzymatic digestion and mechanical separation. Peritoneum was obtained during abdominal operations for benign indications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adhesion of endometrial fragments was studied by histologic examination and scanning and transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After incubation, the mesothelium was intact in some areas, whereas in other areas mesothelial cells were damaged or absent. Adhesion of endometrial fragments was observed only at locations where the basement membrane was exposed. In areas largely denuded of mesothelial cells, endometrial fragments spread over the basement membrane to form monolayers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human peritoneum is suitable for studying the adhesion of endometrial fragments. Intact mesothelium prevents the adhesion of endometrial fragments, suggesting that trauma to the mesothelial lining is a prerequisite for endometrial cell adhesion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. pgr@lpat.azm.nl
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Groothuis
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Koks
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: de Goeij
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dunselman
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Arends
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Evers
mesh_terms: D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000166:cytology; D011446:Prospective Studies