title: Immunohistochemical alterations of cajal-like type of tubal interstitial cells in women with endometriosis and tubal ectopic pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to observe alterations of pacemaker cells termed cajal-like type of tubal interstitial cells (t-ICC) in oviduct from early-stage EMs and tEP, discuss underlying mechanisms and potential role in tubal factor infertility (TFI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with early-stage EMs, 10 with unruptured tEP and 10 control subjects were included in this retrospective comparative study, received adnexectomy (salpingectomy) and/or hysterectomy. Paraffin-embedded full-thickness isthmic segment of oviduct specimens received immunohistochemistry with c-kit/CD117 antibody. Network distribution and area density of cells with features of t-ICC were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  t-ICC was detected mainly in lamina propria and smooth muscle layers. t-ICC lost its network integrity, became less densely stained, sparse and almost invisible with relatively very rare connections in EMs and tEP, apparently differing in morphology of t-ICC from control, which demonstrated rich t-ICC immunostaining and intact network. Further quantitative analysis showed the area density of t-ICC decreased significantly in early-stage EMs and tEP compared with the control (73.9 ± 8.8 vs. 156 ± 18.3 mm(2); and 76 ± 7.4 vs. 156 ± 18.3 mm(2); both P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We revealed that t-ICC underwent certain degree of cell damage, suggested that decreased expression of t-ICC network may be involved in early development of EMs and tEP, and might serve as an explanation for TFI in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Road, Suzhou City, 215006, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China, yang.xiaojun@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jian-Ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zong-Ji
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D056885:Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit