title: Expression of oxytocin receptors in the uterine junctional zone in women with adenomyosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the expression of oxytocin receptor in the uterine junctional zone of the fundus and isthmus in the proliferative and secretory phases in women with and without adenomyosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary gynecologic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine women with adenomyosis (15 in proliferative phase, 14 in secretory phase) and 27 women without adenomyosis (15 in proliferative phase, 12 in secretory phase).
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples from the uterine fundus and isthmus were obtained at hysterectomy. The expression of oxytocin receptor was evaluated using immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immuno-reactive score was used evaluate semi-quantitatively the oxytocin receptor expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In normal uteri, the expression of oxytocin receptor in the isthmus was significantly higher than in the fundus in the proliferative phase (p < 0.01) but the opposite distribution pattern was observed in the secretory phase. Conversely, in adenomyosis uteri, the expression of oxytocin receptor in the fundus was significantly higher than in the isthmus in the proliferative phase (p < 0.05); however, this difference was not significant in the secretory phase. Moreover, oxytocin receptor expression in the fundus of adenomyosis uteri was higher than that in the control uteri in both the proliferative and secretory phases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression pattern of oxytocin receptor in the normal junctional zone is disrupted in women with adenomyosis. This may be one possible explanation for the symptomatology of the condition.
authors: Department of Gynecology Minimally Invasive Center, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Pei
authors: P
authors: Yu
authors: Fujing
authors: F
authors: Sun
authors: Tin Chiu
authors: TC
authors: Li
authors: Jiu mei
authors: Jm
authors: Cheng
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Duan
mesh_terms: D062788:Adenomyosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C569600:OXTR protein, human; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin
keywords: Adenomyosis; immunohistochemistry; junctional zone; myometrium; oxytocin receptor