title: Nerve fiber density in deep nodular endometriotic lesions induced in a baboon experimental model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the occurrence of nerve fibers in deep nodular endometriotic lesions after nodules were induced in baboons and nerve fiber densities measured 6 months after the grafting procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic gynecology research unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten baboons (Papio anubis).
  
  
  METHODS
  Recovery of induced endometriotic nodules and eutopic endometrium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 and nerve growth factor (NGF) immunohistochemistries were performed to evaluate nerve fiber density and NGF expression in induced endometriotic lesions and eutopic endometrium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eutopic (basalis) endometrium, myometrium, and invasive and noninvasive nodular lesions were analyzed separately. The highest nerve fiber densities were observed in normal myometrium and in the basal layer of eutopic endometrium. No significant differences were observed between the two lesion types. However, the NGF staining intensity score was found to be higher in glands of deep invasive lesions than in glands of eutopic baboon endometrium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to show the presence of nerve fibers in eutopic baboon endometrium and induced deep endometriotic nodules. Long-term studies are now warranted to determine if nerves still grow in invasive and noninvasive lesions >6 months after grafting, and to evaluate the role of the lesion environment.
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Donnez
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Defrère
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dehoux
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Langendonckt
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnez
authors.forename: Marie-Madeleine
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dolmans
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colette
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000294:innervation* / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D048530:Papio anubis; D013997:Time Factors; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
keywords: Nerve fibers; baboon; deep nodular lesions; endometriosis