Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase in Ectopic Endometrium of Ovary with Endometriosis

Objective: To investigate the expression levels of nitric oxide synthase in normal ovarian tissues and ectopic endometrium of ovary with endometriosis.Methods: The levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) in normal ovarian tissues(n=17) and ectopic endometrium of ovary with endometriosis(n=19) were detected by immunohistochemical SABC method.Results: The iNOS and eNOS(each assayed by optical densities and area densities respectively) were expressed in normal ovarian tissues at low levels((0.178 6)±0.013 8 and 0.053 9±0.008 4,0.118 7±0.006 2 and 0.021 5±0.006 9) and expressed in ectopic endometrium of ovary with endometriosis at high levels(0.290 7±0.014 5 and 0.256 4±0.017 3,0.288 9±0.012 1 and 0.248 3±0.015 7).The difference between the two groups was significant(P0.01).Conclusion: The levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and inducible nitric oxide synthase in ectopic endometrium of ovary with endometriosis is higher than those in normal ovarian tissues.