Effect of progestogens and combined oral contraceptives on nerve fibers in peritoneal endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate how progestogens and combined oral contraceptives change nerve fiber density in peritoneal endometriotic lesions and to identify the types of nerve fibers still present during hormone treatment.


METHODS
Laboratory study using human tissue.


METHODS
University-based laboratory.


METHODS
Hormonally treated and untreated women with endometriosis undergoing laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and curettage.


METHODS
Biopsy samples from peritoneal endometriotic lesions in hormonally treated and untreated women with endometriosis.


METHODS
Types and density of nerve fibers were immunohistochemically determined in peritoneal endometriotic lesions from hormonally treated and untreated women with endometriosis.


RESULTS
The nerve fiber density (mean +/- standard deviation/mm(2)) in peritoneal endometriotic lesions from hormone-treated women with endometriosis (10.6 +/- 2.2/mm(2)) was statistically significantly lower than in peritoneal endometriotic lesions from untreated women with endometriosis (16.3 +/-10.0/mm(2)). Nerve growth factor and nerve growth factor receptor p75 expression in peritoneal endometriotic lesions were slightly reduced in hormone-treated women with endometriosis compared with untreated women with endometriosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Progestogens and combined oral contraceptives reduced nerve fiber density and nerve growth factor and nerve growth factor receptor p75 expression in peritoneal endometriotic lesions.
Tokushige
Natsuko
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Elizabeth II Research Institute for Mothers and Infants, and the Department of Pathology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: ntokushige@med.usyd.edu.au.
Markham
Robert
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Elizabeth II Research Institute for Mothers and Infants, and the Department of Pathology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Russell
Peter
P
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Elizabeth II Research Institute for Mothers and Infants, and the Department of Pathology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Fraser
Ian S
IS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Elizabeth II Research Institute for Mothers and Infants, and the Department of Pathology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011372:Progestins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; C502240:NGF protein, human; D011372:Progestins; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; C482860:UCHL1 protein, human; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase