title: Immunohistochemical analysis of connective tissue in patients with pelvic organ prolapse.
abstract: The uterosacral ligaments are an important part of the pelvic support system. The objective of this study was to compare the expression of collagen type I and collagen type III in the uterosacral ligament biopsies from women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The uterosacral ligament biopsies were obtained from women with POP (n = 29) and non-POP subjects (n = 35). Immunohistochemistry for collagen type I and collagen type III was performed on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections. The two groups were matched for age, body mass index, parity and postmenopausal status. The expression of collagen type I (p < 0.001) and collagen type III (p < 0.0001) differed between women with POP and non-POP subjects. There was decreased expression of collagen type I and increased expression of collagen type III in uterosacral ligaments of women with POP compared with non-POP subjects. This difference indicates a possible relationship between POP and the immunohistochemical expression of collagen type I and collagen type III in uterosacral ligaments.
authors.affiliation: Clinics of Gynecology and Obstetric, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nese
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.forename: Akın
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usta
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guzin
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanter
authors.forename: Ergun
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bilgic
authors.forename: Nurver Ozbay
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Ozel
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozgul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008022:Ligaments / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017698:Postmenopause
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III