Oral contraceptives prevent the development of endometriosis in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane model.
BACKGROUND
Fundamental and genetic differences between women in the endometrium may cause some to develop endometriosis, whereas others do not. Oral contraceptives (OC) may have an effect on the endometrium, rendering the development of endometriosis less likely.


METHODS
Endometrium from women using OC (OCE) and menstrual endometrium (ME) from normal cycling women were transplanted onto the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), and endometriosis-like lesion formation was evaluated. Microarray gene expression profiling was performed to identify differentially expressed genes in the endometrium from these groups. Microarray data were validated by real-time PCR.


RESULTS
Less endometriosis-like lesions were formed after transplantation of OCE than after transplantation of ME (p<.05). Most of the differentially expressed genes belong to the TGFbeta superfamily. Real-time PCR validation revealed that inhibin betaA (INHBA) expression was significantly decreased in OCE as compared to ME.


CONCLUSIONS
OC use affects the characteristics of endometrium, rendering it less potent to develop into endometriosis.
Nap
Annemiek W
AW
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Maaslandziekenhuis, P.O. Box 5500, 6130 MB Sittard, The Netherlands.
Groothuis
Patrick G
PG
Punyadeera
Chamindie
C
Klein-Hitpass
Ludger
L
Kamps
Rik
R
Delvoux
Bert
B
Dunselman
Gerard A J
GA
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002645:Chickens; D049033:Chorioallantoic Membrane; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D055815:Young Adult
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal