Nerve fibres in peritoneal endometriosis

Natsuko Tokushige, Robert Markham, Peter Russell, Ian S Fraser
Human Reproduction · 2006 · vol. 21(11) , pp. 3001–3007 · doi:10.1093/humrep/del260 · PMID:16950827 · W2028030563
article OA: bronze CC0 ⤵ 256 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

Peritoneal endometriotic lesions exhibit significantly more sensory, cholinergic, and adrenergic nerve fibers, including those expressing SP, CGRP, and NGF, compared to normal peritoneum or endosalpingiosis.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a gynaecological disease that can be associated with severe pelvic pain; however, the mechanisms by which pain is generated remain unknown. METHODS: Peritoneal endometriotic lesions and normal peritoneum were prepared from women with and without endometriosis (n = 40 and 36, respectively). Specimens were also prepared from endosalpingiosis lesions (n = 9). These sections were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against protein gene product 9.5, neurofilament (NF), nerve growth factor (NGF), NGF receptor p75 (NGFRp75), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), acetylcholine (ACh) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) to demonstrate myelinated, unmyelinated, sensory, cholinergic and adrenergic nerve fibres. RESULTS: There were significantly more nerve fibres identified in peritoneal endometriotic lesions than in normal peritoneum (P < 0.001) or endosalpingiosis lesions (P < 0.001). These nerve fibres were SP, CGRP, ACh or TH immunoreactive. Many of these markers were co-localized. There was an intense NGF immunoreactivity near endometriotic glands, and NGFRp75 immunoreactive nerve fibres were present near endometriotic glands and blood vessels in the peritoneal endometriotic lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal endometriotic lesions were innervated by sensory Adelta, sensory C, cholinergic and adrenergic nerve fibres. These nerve fibres may play an important role in the mechanisms of pain generation in this condition.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometrium Nerve Fibers Adolescent Adult Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Female Humans Immunohistochemistry Middle Aged Nerve Fibers Nerve Fibers Reference Values Substance P Substance P

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References (43)

Cited by (50)

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