title: Tissue composition of the vaginal wall in women with pelvic organ prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the composition of the vaginal wall and to explore the connective tissue layer, muscularis and basement membrane in relation to the pathogenesis of pelvic organ prolapse (POP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a histopathological study with respect to the composition of the vaginal wall of 33 patients and 9 controls. Tissue samples from the vaginal wall were analysed for collagens II and IV, desmin, elastin, fibronectin, smooth muscle actin (SMA) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 using (immuno)histochemistry. Morphometric analyses were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphometric characteristics and expression of SMA, TGF-β1, elastin and collagen II were significantly altered in women with POP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that there could be an altered tissue composition of the vaginal wall in women with POP. SMA expression could play a role in the pathogenesis of POP. The alterations in elastin and TGF-β1 expression are likely a result of POP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Deventer Hospital, Deventer, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Aukje M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Meijerink
authors.forename: Reinier H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: van Rijssel
authors.forename: Paul J Q
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van der Linden
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000941:Antigens; D024043:Collagen Type II; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D004549:Elastin