Expression and significance of thrombospondin-1 in ovarian interstitium from patients with ovarian endometrioid cysts

Objective:To investigate the expression and significance of thrombospondin-1 in ovarian interstitium from patients with ovarian endometrioid cysts. Methods:A total of 76 ovarian interstitial tissue specimens(51 from ovarian endometriosis patients and 25 from patients with benign ovarian tumors) were obtained.Expression of TSP-1 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry technique,while micro vessels were detected by CD34 antibody and microvascular density(MVD) measurement based on image analysis. Results:Compared to the control group,the positive expression rate of TSP-1 in ovarian endometriosis group(66.67%) was increased.MVD in the TSP-1-positive group was lower than that in the TSP-1-negative group.There was a negative correlation between the expression of TSP-1 and that of MVD(rs=-0.76,P0.01). Conclusion:The change in TSP-1 expression may play an important role in ovarian interstitial damage of ovarian endometriosis presented by microvascular injurys and ovarian interstitial fibrosis.