Expression of motility-related molecule Cdc42 in endometrial tissue in women with adenomyosis and ovarian endometriomata.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate Cdc42 expression in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissue in patients with adenomyosis and ovarian endometriotic cysts compared with patients without endometriosis.


METHODS
Experimental retrospective study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with adenomyosis, 19 with ovarian endometriomata, and 9 with fibroids or benign ovarian cysts.


METHODS
Hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy.


METHODS
Immunostaining for Cdc42 of eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues.


RESULTS
In eutopic endometrium of patients with adenomyosis and with fibroids or benign ovarian cysts, the intensity of Cdc42 immunostaining was weaker, especially in the specialized stromal cells, compared with cases with ovarian endometriosis (chi(2) test, P=.003). Expression of Cdc42 in eutopic endometrium showed a trend to be higher in the secretory than in the proliferative phase and in patients with ovarian endometriotic cysts compared with patients with adenomyosis (unpaired t test, P=.005), especially in the proliferative phase.


CONCLUSIONS
An abnormally high expression of Cdc42 in eutopic endometrium in the secretory phase may contribute to the development of ovarian endometriosis, but it does not seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis.
Goteri
Gaia
G
Institute of Pathology, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marches, Umberto I-Torrette Hospital, Ancona, Italy. g.goteri@univpm.it
Ciavattini
Andrea
A
Lucarini
Guendalina
G
Montik
Nina
N
Filosa
Alessandra
A
Stramazzotti
Daniela
D
Biagini
Graziella
G
Tranquilli
Andrea Luigi
AL
D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014018:Tissue Distribution