Culture of menstrual endometrium with peritoneal explants and mesothelial monolayers confirms attachment to intact mesothelial cells.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate adhesion of menstrual endometrium (ME) to intact peritoneal mesothelium.


METHODS
Explants of peritoneum were cultured for 1 h with ME (n = 6). Specimens were serially sectioned for haematoxylin and eosin stain and immunohistochemistry using an anti-cytokeratin antibody to label mesothelium. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was performed to identify an intact layer of mesothelial cells (MC) underlying sites of ME attachment. Also, ME and MC were labelled with Cell-Tracker dyes. ME was cultured with mesothelial monolayers for 1 h (n = 10). Cultures were examined with differential interference contrast and CLSM. Optical sections were taken and a three-dimensional model was constructed.


RESULTS
In the peritoneal explants, ME adhered to intact mesothelium. There was no evidence of transmesothelial invasion. CLSM of sections of the explants demonstrated an intact monolayer of cytokeratin positive cells below the sites of ME implantation. Cytokeratin negative and positive ME cells adhered to mesothelial cells. Likewise, the ME attached to cultured mesothelium. Orthogonal sections and three-dimensional reconstruction confirmed an intact monolayer of mesothelium underlying ME attachment sites.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that ME adheres rapidly to intact peritoneal mesothelium. Further studies are needed that characterize the mechanisms of ME adhesion to, and migration through, mesothelial cells.
Witz
Craig A
CA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA. witz@uthscsa.edu
Allsup
Karen T
KT
Montoya-Rodriguez
Iris A
IA
Vaughn
Shelby L
SL
Centonze
Victoria E
VE
Schenken
Robert S
RS
D000328:Adult; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008598:Menstruation / Q000502:physiology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000502:physiology
D007633:Keratins