Immunohistochemical analysis of proliferative activity and steroid receptor expression in peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis

Michelle Nisolle, M Nisolle, F Casanas-Roux, Frangoise Casanas-Roux, Jacques Donnez, J Donnez
Fertility and Sterility · 1997 · vol. 68(5) , pp. 912–919 · doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(97)00341-5 · PMID:9389825 · W2041513994
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06+body, 2026-06-12 ⓘ

This study assessed proliferative activity and steroid receptor expression in eutopic and ectopic endometrium, finding persistent steroid receptors and proliferative activity in endometriotic tissue during the late secretory phase.

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This study used immunohistochemistry to measure Ki-67 proliferative activity and stereographic computer technology to quantify estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor expression in biopsies from infertile patients, comparing eutopic endometrium across menstrual phases with black and red peritoneal endometriotic lesions and ovarian endometriomas. In normal endometrium, glandular proliferation peaked in the proliferative phase and declined in the secretory phase, with no proliferative activity observed in late secretory endometrium, and receptor levels (ERs and PRs) similarly decreased through the secretory phase. Ectopic tissue largely resembled eutopic endometrium except in late secretory phase, when proliferative activity persisted in endometriotic tissue, PR persisted in glandular epithelium, and ER persisted in glandular epithelium and stroma of red lesions and ovarian endometriomas; the authors emphasize that stromal activity may be central to endometriosis development. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it focuses on proliferative activity and steroid receptor expression in peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis lesions versus eutopic endometrium across the menstrual cycle.

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Immunohistochemical analysis of proliferative activity and steroid receptor expression in peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis (1997) Fertility and Sterility — Vol. 68, n° 5, p. 912-919 (1997) (1997) Fertility and Sterility — Vol. 68, n° 5, p. 912-919 (1997) Open Access - Adobe PDF - 1004.1 KB - Authors - Author Nisolle, Michelle UCLouvain - Author Casanas-Roux, Françoise UCLouvain - Author Donnez, Jacques UCLouvain - Abstract - OBJECTIVE: To assess the proliferative activity of eutopic and ectopic endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle and its correlation to steroid receptor content. DESIGN: The immunohistochemical use of Ki 67 was applied to investigate the proliferation index. A recently advanced stereographic computer technology was used to investigate steroid receptors. SETTING: University hospital department of gynecology. PATIENT(S): Biopsies of eutopic endometrium, black and red peritoneal endometriotic lesions, and ovarian endometriomas were taken from infertile patients and classified according to the phase of the cycle. RESULT(S): In normal endometrium, the glandular proliferation index was highest during the proliferative phase and was statistically significantly reduced during the secretory phase. No proliferative activity was observed in the late secretory phase. No statistically significant differences were found between ectopic endometrium and eutopic endometrium except during the late secretory phase, when proliferative activity was still present in endometriotic tissue. The stromal proliferation index was similar in red lesions, ovarian endometriomas, and eutopic endometrium during the secretory phase. In normal endometrium, the highest concentrations of estrogen receptors (ERs) and P receptors (PRs) occurred in the epithelial and stromal cells during the late proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. Estrogen receptor and PR content declined throughout the secretory phase. In ectopic endometrium, PR persisted in the glandular epithelium during the late secretory phase. Estrogen receptors persisted in the glandular epithelium and stroma of red peritoneal lesions and ovarian endometriomas during the late secretory phase. CONCLUSION(S): The high proliferative activity and the persistence of ERs and PRs in the stroma of red lesions and ovarian endometriomas emphasize the primordial role of the stroma in the development of endometriosis and suggest different mechanisms of proliferation control from those observed in eutopic endometrium. - Affiliations - APA - Chicago - FWB Nisolle, M., Casanas-Roux, F., & Donnez, J. (1997). Immunohistochemical analysis of proliferative activity and steroid receptor expression in peritoneal and ovarian endometriosis. Fertility and Sterility, 68(5), 912-919. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(97)00341-5 (Original work published 1997)

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Immunohistochemistry Ovarian Diseases Peritoneal Diseases Receptors, Estrogen Receptors, Progesterone Adult Cell Division Endometriosis Endometriosis Epithelium Epithelium Female Humans Menstrual Cycle Ovarian Diseases Ovarian Diseases Peritoneal Diseases Peritoneal Diseases Receptors, Estrogen

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