Expression of estrogen receptor in entopic and ectopic endometrium of abdominal wall endometriosis

Fifty-six patients with abdominal wall endometriosis(AWE)were assigned into the proliferous group or the secretory group and the expression of estrogen receptor(ER)in the entopie,ectopic and normal endometrium was investigated.In the proliferous group,the positive ER expression rate on the entopie endometrium(85%)was significantly higher than that on the normal(60%)or ectopie endometrium (58%)(P<0.05).In the secretory group,the positive ER expression rate on the eetopie endometrium (57%)was significantly higher than that on the entopic (26%) or normal endometrium(25%)(P< 0.05).There was significant difference in the entopie and normal endometriilm between the two groups (P<0.01):however,there was no significant diffeFence in the ectopic endometrium.Abnormal ER expression on the entopic or ectopic endometrium may play a role in the pathogenesis of AWE. Key words: Receptors,estrogen;  Endometriosis