Cell of the mucous membrane of the female genital tract in culture: A comparative study with regard to the histogenesis of endometriosis

Summary Cellular elements from the mucous membrane of the uterus and oviducts and from peritoneal washings were cultured. The in vitro behavior of these cells was compared to elucidate the histogenesis of endometriosis and the role of various diagnostic procedures. In 65% of the cultured matrial obtained by uterine-tubal flushing, proliferating cells of the uterine-tubal mucous membrane were present. Their morphology and behavior corresponded to those of cultured cells obtained by separate washing of the uterine cavity and the tubes, respectively, curetted material, and biopsies of endometriosis lesions. Epithelial and stromal cells were identified using phase contrast microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical methods. These cell types did not occur in peritoneal washings before the flushing of uterus and tubes. It was therefore assumed that they were detached and transported to the pelvic cavity during the above-mentioned procedures. In view of their intensive proliferation they may form the basis in the development of nodules of endometriosis. This would support the implantation theory concerning the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Interactions between epithelial and mesothelial cells point to the possible role of the latter in encapsulating the endometrial elements. Similar content being viewed by others References Beyth, Y.; Yaffe, H.; Levij, I.Sh., et al. Retrograde seeding of endometrium: a sequela of tubal flushing. Fertil. Steril. 26:1094–1097; 1975. Centola, G. M.; Cisar, M.; Knab, D. R. Establishment and morphologic characterization of normal human endometrium in vitro. In Vitro 20:451–462; 1984. David, J. F.; Fernandez, R.; Marques, B., et al. Caractères de croissance et morphologie des cellules endometriales normales humaines en primo-culture. Bull Assoc. Anat. 63:69–82; 1979. Dorman, B. H.; Varma, V. A.; Siegfried, J. M., et al. Morphology and growth potential of stromal cell cultures derived from human endometrium. In Vitro 18:919–928; 1982. Gal, D.; Casey, M. L.; Johnston J. M., et al. Mesenchyme-epithelial interactions in human endometrium. J. Clin. Invest. 70:798–805; 1982. Halaban, R.; Alfano, F. D., Selective elimination of fibroblasts from cultures of normal human melanocytes. In Vitro 20:447–450; 1984. Kistner, R. W.; Siegler, A. M.; Behrman, S. J. Suggested classification for endometriosis: relationship to infertility. Fertil. Steril. 28:1008–1010; 1977. Kühn, W.; Staemller, H. J.; Neckel, E. Endometriose-Implantation oder Metaplasie? Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 41:698–701; 1981. Liszczak, T. M.; Richardson, G. S.; MacLaughlin, D. T., et al. Ultrastructure of human endometrial epithelium in monolayer culture with and without steroid hormones. In Vitro 13:344–356; 1977. Mouriquand, J.; Mouriquand, C.; Petitpas E., et al. Long-term tissue cultures of human pleural effusions: a cytological follow up. In Vitro 14:591–600; 1978. Muse, K. N.; Wilson, E. A. How does mild endometriosis cause infertility? Fertil. Steril. 38:145–152; 1982. Nozawa, S.; Ishiwata, I.; Taguchi S., et al. Uterine cervical and endometrial cells in vitro: can reserve cells grow in vitro? In: Hafez, E. S. E.; Kenemans P., eds. Atlas of human reproduction by scanning electron microscopy. The Hague, The Netherlands: MTP Press Ltd. 1982:111–117. Poels, L. G.; Peters, D.; van Megen, Y., et al. Monoclonal antibody against human ovarian tumor-associated antigens. JNCI 76:781–791; 1986. Ramaekers, F. C. S.; Puts, J. J. G.; Kant, A., et al. The use of antibodies directed against intermediate filaments in the characterization of human tumors. Cold Spring Harb. Symp. Quant. Biol. 46:331–339; 1981. Ramaekers, F. C. S.; Puts, J. J. G.; Moesker, O., et al. Antibodies to intermediate filament, proteins in the immunohistochemical identification of human tumours: an overview. Histochem. J. 15:691–713; 1983. Ramaekers F.; Huysmans, A.; Moesker, O., et al. Monoclonal antibody to keratin filaments, specific for glandular epithelia and their tumors. Use in surgical pathology. Lab. Invest. 49:353–361; 1983. Rosenfeld, D. L.; Lecher, B. D. Endometriosis in a patient with Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 139:105; 1982. Sampson, J. A. Peritoneal endometriosis due to the menstrual dissemination of endometrial tissue into the peritoneal cavity. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 14:422–469; 1927. Satyaswaroop, P. G.; Bressler, R. S.; dela Pena, M. M., et al. Isolation and culture of human endometrial glands. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 48:639–641; 1979. Siegfried J. M.; Nelson, K. G.; Martin, J. L., et al. Histochemical identification of cultured cells from human endometrium. In Vitro 20:25–32; 1984. Spangler, D. B.; Jones, G. S.; Jones, H. W. Infertility due to endometriosis. Am. J Obstet. Gynecol. 109:850–857; 1971. Trent, J. M.; Davis, J. R.; Payne, C. M. The establishment and morphologic characterization of finite cell lines from normal human endometrium. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 136:352–362; 1980. Varma, V. A.; Melin, S. A.; Adamec, T. A., et al. Monolayer culture of human endometrium: methods of culture and identification of cell types. In Vitro 18:911–918; 1982. Vasquez, G.; Cornillie, F.; Brosens, I. A. Peritoneal endometriosis: scanning electron microscopy and histology of minimal pelvic endometriotic lesions. Fertil. Steril. 42:696–703; 1982. Willemsen, W. N. P.; Mungyer, G.; Smets, H., et al. Behavior of cultured glandular cells obtained by flushing of the uterine cavity. Fertil. Steril. 44:92–95; 1985. Author information Authors and Affiliations Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Mungyer, G., Willemsen, W.N.P., Rolland, R. et al. Cell of the mucous membrane of the female genital tract in culture: A comparative study with regard to the histogenesis of endometriosis. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol 23, 111–117 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02623590 Received: Accepted: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02623590