Immunohistochemical study of osteopontin and L-selectin in a rat endometriosis model and in human endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the localization of the proteins osteopontin (OPN) and L-selectin (SELL).


METHODS
Retrospective nonrandomized immunohistochemical study in a surgically induced rat model of peritoneal endometriosis and in samples of human endometriotic lesions of ovaries.


METHODS
Department of gynecology in a university hospital.


METHODS
A rat endometriosis model was induced in 10 8-week-old SLC-Sprague-Dawley rats by surgical autotransplantation of uterus. Fourteen premenopausal women with histologically diagnosed endometriosis were selected (mean age, 39 y; range, 25-53 y). Twenty endometriotic specimens were obtained from 14 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for enlarged endometriotic cysts.


METHODS
Histopathological examination of endometriotic ovarian specimens for OPN and SELL expression by immunohistochemistry.


METHODS
Demonstration of the immunoreactive staining of OPN and SELL expressions in tissues of a rat endometriosis model and of human endometriosis.


RESULTS
In both tissues from a rat endometriosis model and from human endometriosis, OPN was stained more prominently in glandular epithelium than in interstitial space, whereas SELL stained more prominently in interstitial space (macrophages and lymphocytes) than in epithelium. The staining pattern of OPN in ectopic endometriotic lesions was very similar to that in eutopic normal human endometrium in the secretory phase.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested important roles for OPN and SELL in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Odagiri
Kohei
K
Department of Gynecology, Omiya Medical Center, Jichi Medical School, Saitama, Japan.
Konno
Ryo
R
Fujiwara
Hiroyuki
H
Netsu
Sachiho
S
Ohwada
Michitaka
M
Shibahara
Hiroaki
H
Suzuki
Mitsuaki
M
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D053495:Osteopontin; D019041:L-Selectin