c-kit/CD 117 positive cells in the myometrium of pregnant women and those with uterine endometriosis

• Published in: Archives of gynecology and obstetrics 2012-07, Vol.286 (1), p.105-107
• Main Authors: Horn, L.-C., Meinel, A., Hentschel, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Endocrinology; Endometriosis; Endometriosis - pathology; Endometriosis - physiopathology; Female; General Gynecology; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Motility; Muscle Contraction; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle - metabolism; Myometrium - cytology; Myometrium - pathology; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Postmenopause; Pregnancy; Premenopause; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit - metabolism; Uterine Diseases - pathology; Uterine Diseases - physiopathology
• ISSN: 0932-0067; 1432-0711
• DOI: 10.1007/s00404-012-2220-y

Purpose Abnormal myometrial motility may play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Uterine contractility is a major contribution to labour. Myometrial motility might be controlled by CD 117-positive uterine smooth muscle cells. Methods Myometrial tissues from 8 cases with uterine endometriosis, 9 pregnant uteri (31.1 ± 8.7 weeks of gestation), 10 cases from non-pregnant pre-menopausal and 9 cases from post-menopausal women were immunohistochemically evaluated using a polyclonal antibody against c-kit/CD 117. The number of CD 117 positive cells was counted within 10 microscopic high power fields (×400) and compared with the clinical diagnoses. Results Overall, a mean number of 15.7 (range 0–43) CD 117-positive cells within the myometrium was seen. Significant highest count occurred in the myometrium of non-pregnant pre-menopausal women without uterine endometriosis (30.78 ± 9.52), followed by post-menopausal women (15.5 ± 8.37) and those with uterine endometriosis (9.98 ± 4.9; p  ≤ 0.01). The lowest count of CD 117-positive cells was seen in pregnant uteri (4.09 ± 2.33; p