Endometriosis origin from primordial germ cells

Z. Makiyan
Organogenesis · 2017 · vol. 13(3) , pp. 95–102 · doi:10.1080/15476278.2017.1323162 · PMID:28486048 · W2613772734
review OA: bronze CC0 ⤵ 24 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-09 ⓘ

This paper proposes that endometriosis originates from primordial germ cells that fail to reach the gonadal ridges and instead differentiate into ectopic endometrial tissue within the peritoneal cavity.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is defined by the presence of endometrial ectopia. Multiple hypotheses have been postulated to explain the etiology of endometriosis to understand various clinical evidences. The etiology of endometriosis is still unclear.The primary question to understanding the etiology of endometrial ectopia (endometriosis) is determining the origin of eutopic (normally cited) endometrium.According to the new theory, primordial germ cells migrate from hypoblast (yolk sac close to the allantois) to the gonadal ridges. The gonadal ridges which composed of primordial germ cells derive to the: eutopic endometrium, ovary, ovarian ligament and ligamentum teres uteri.There are 2 principal processes in uterine organogenesis: the intersection of gonadal ridges with mesonephral ducts to form the uterine folds with an endometrial cavity and the fusion of the both uterine folds together to form the unicavital (normal) uterus. In the uterine folds there are closer cell-to-cell communications, polypotential germ cells differentiate and grow into myometrium and endometrial layers.Some of the polypotential germ cells fail to reach the ridges and stay in the peritoneal cavity, where they may be transforming into external endometrial heterotopies.The main insight in the etiology of endometriosis is polypotential germ cells origin, which may explain its potency, pathogenesis and expansion.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Germ Cells Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Germ Cells Humans Models, Biological

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References (28)

Cited by (24)

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License: CC0 · commercial use OK