Smooth muscle differentiation at endometrio-myometrial junction

Shingo Fujii, Ikuo Konishi, Takahide Mori
In: Virchows Archiv A Pathological Anatomy and Histopathology · 1989 · vol. 414(2) , pp. 105–112 · doi:10.1007/bf00718589 · PMID:2492689 · W2928313817
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-07+body, 2026-07-08 ⓘ

Mesenchymal cells at the endometrio-myometrial junction exhibited smooth muscle-like characteristics that changed with the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy, suggesting smooth muscle differentiation from endometrial stromal cells.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-06 · read from full text ⓘ

This study examined the ultrastructure of mesenchymal/endometrial stromal components at the endometrio-myometrial junction (EMJ) across the menstrual cycle and during early pregnancy to determine whether uterine myometrial smooth muscle is newly produced at the adult EMJ. Smooth muscle–like cells were identified among usual endometrial stromal cells in all specimens, resembling myofibroblasts in the follicular phase but displaying more distinct smooth muscle features (e.g., cytoplasmic filaments, dense bodies, and plaques) in the luteal phase and early pregnancy. The authors interpret the morphology changes as suggesting smooth muscle differentiation from multi-potential mesenchymal cells in the endometrial stroma, while the main caveat is that the evidence is ultrastructural and morphological rather than directly demonstrating cell fate or functional integration. This paper is centrally about endometriosis and/or adenomyosis — specifically, it addresses EMJ smooth muscle differentiation relevant to adenomyosis-like junctional pathology.

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Abstract

To determine whether myometrial smooth muscle is newly produced at the endometrio-myometrial junction (EMJ) of the adult uterus, we examined the ultrastructure of mesenchymal components at this site during the menstrual cycle and during early pregnancy. Cells having some features of smooth muscle were found among the usual endometrial stromal cells in every specimen examined. In the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, such cells resembled myofibroblasts, but in the luteal phase and during early pregnancy, they had more distinct cytoplasmic filaments with dense bodies and dense plaques, and other fairly well developed characteristics of smooth muscle. The identification of smooth muscle-like cells at the EMJ in the adult uterus and the finding that their morphology changes into cells having many of the characteristics of smooth muscle cells during the luteal phase and early pregnancy, suggests that smooth muscle differentiation possibly occurs from multi-potential mesenchymal cells in the endometrial stroma.
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Summary To determine whether myometrial smooth muscle is newly produced at the endometrio-myometrial junction (EMJ) of the adult uterus, we examined the ultrastructure of mesenchymal components at this site during the menstrual cycle and during early pregnancy. Cells having some features of smooth muscle were found among the usual endometrial stromal cells in every specimen examined. In the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, such cells resembled myofibroblasts, but in the luteal phase and during early pregnancy, they had more distinct cytoplasmic filaments with dense bodies and dense plaques, and other fairly well developed characteristics of smooth muscle. The identification of smooth muscle-like cells at the EMJ in the adult uterus and the finding that their morphology changes into cells having many of the characteristics of smooth muscle cells during the luteal phase and early pregnancy, suggests that smooth muscle differentiation possibly occurs from multi-potential mesenchymal cells in the endometrial stroma. Similar content being viewed by others References Bird CC, Willis RA (1965) The production of smooth muscle by the endometrial stroma of the adult uterus. J Pathol Bacteriol 90:75–81 Bo Wj, Odor DL, Rothrock ML (1968) Ultrastructure of uterine smooth muscle following progesterone or progesterone-estrogen treatment. Anat Rec 163:121–132 Burnstock G (1981) Development of smooth muscle and its innervation. In: Bulbring E, Brading SF, Jones AW, Tomita T (eds) Smooth Muscle. Edward Arnold, London, pp 431–457 Cozzutto C (1981) Uterus-like mass replacing ovary. Arch Pathol Lab Med 105:508–511 Fujii S, Okamura H, Nakasima N, Ban C, Aso T, Nishimura T (1980) Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata. Obstet Gynecol 55:79s-83s Fujii S, Nakashima N, Okamura H, Takenaka A, Kanzaki H, Okuda Y, Morimoto K, Nishimura T (1981) Progesterone-induced smooth muscle-like cells in the subperitoneal nodules produced by estrogen. Am J Obstet Gynecol 139:164–172 Gabbiani G, Ryan GB, Majno G (1971) Presence of modified fibroblasts in granulation tissue and their possible role in wound contracture. Experimentia 27:549 Ghahdially FN (1982) Ultrastructural Pathology of the Cell and Matrix. 2nd ed, Butterworth, London, pp 658–663 Kawaguchi K, Fujii S, Konishi I, Okamura H, Mori T (1985) Ultrastructural Study of cultured smooth muscle cells from uterine leiomyoma and myometrium under the influence of sex steroids. Gynecol Oncol 21:32–41 Konishi I, Fujii S, Ban C, Okuda Y, Okamura H, Tojo S (1983) Ultrastructural study of minute uterine leiomyomas. Int J Gynecol Pathol 2:113–120 Konishi I, Fujii S, Okamura H, Mori T (1984) Development of smooth muscle in the human fetal uterus: an ultrastructural study. J Anat 139:239–252 Mazur MT, Kraus FT (1984) Histogenesis of morphologic variations in tumors of the uterine wall. Am J Surg Pathol 4:59–74 Parmley TH, Woodruff JD, Winn K, Johnson JWC, Douglas PH (1975) Histogenesis of leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (disseminated fibrosing deciduosis). Obstet Gynecol 46:511–516 Ross R, Klebanoff SJ (1967) Fine structural changes in uterine smooth muscle and fibroblasts in response to estrogens. J Cell Biol 32:155–169 Scully RE (1981) Smooth-muscle differentiation in genital tract disorders. Arch Path Lab Med 105:505–507 Skalli O, Ropraz P, Trzeciak A, Benzonana G, Gillessen D, Gabbiani G (1986) A monoclonal antibody against alphasmooth muscle actin: A new probe for smooth muscle differentiation. J Cell Biol 103:2787–2796 Song J, Mark MS, Lawler MP Jr (1970) Endometrial changes in women receiving oral contraceptives. Am J Obstet Gynecol 107:717–728 Tavassoli FA, Norris HJ (1982) Peritoneal leiomyomatosis (leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata): a clinicopathological study of 20 cases with ultrastructural observations. Int J Gynecol Pathol 1:59–74 Author information Authors and Affiliations Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Fujii, S., Konishi, I. & Mori, T. Smooth muscle differentiation at endometrio-myometrial junction. Vichows Archiv A Pathol Anat 414, 105–112 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00718589 Received: Revised: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00718589

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