Rich innervation of deep infiltrating endometriosis

Guoyun Wang, Natsuko Tokushige, Robert Markham, Ian S Fraser
Human Reproduction · 2008 · vol. 24(4) , pp. 827–834 · doi:10.1093/humrep/den464 · PMID:19151028 · W2165639652
article OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 196 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

Deep infiltrating endometriosis lesions exhibit significantly greater innervation by sensory, cholinergic, and adrenergic nerve fibers, along with strong expression of NGF and its receptors, compared to peritoneal endometriotic lesions.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is a specific type of endometriosis, which can be associated with more severe pelvic pain than other forms of endometriotic lesions. However, the mechanisms by which pain is generated are not well understood. METHODS: DIE (n = 31) and peritoneal endometriotic (n = 40) lesions were sectioned and stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against protein gene product 9.5, neurofilament, nerve growth factor (NGF), NGF receptors tyrosine kinase receptor-A (Trk-A) and p75, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vesicular acetylcholine transporter, neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal peptide and tyrosine hydroxylase to demonstrate myelinated, unmyelinated, sensory and autonomic nerve fibres. RESULTS: There were significantly more nerve fibres in DIE (67.6 +/- 65.1/mm(2)) than in peritoneal endometriotic lesions (16.3 +/- 10.0/mm(2)) (P < 0.01). DIE was innervated abundantly by sensory Adelta, sensory C, cholinergic and adrenergic nerve fibres; NGF, Trk-A and p75 were strongly expressed in endometriotic glands and stroma of DIE. CONCLUSIONS: The rich innervation of DIE may help to explain why patients with this type of lesion have severe pelvic pain.

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Condition tags

endometriosisdie_deep_infiltrating

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Nerve Fibers Adult Antigens, CD34 Antigens, CD34 Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Female Humans Immunohistochemistry Middle Aged Nerve Fibers Nerve Fibers

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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