EFFECT OF ENDOMETRIOSIS ON WHITE BLOOD-CELL SUBPOPULATIONS IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD AND PERITONEAL-FLUID OF BABOONS

In women with endometriosis, changes in peripheral blood and peritonea l fluid white blood cell (WBC) populations have been reported, but it is not known whether these alterations are causally related to or a co nsequence of endometriosis. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid WBC populations are altered in baboons with spontaneous and induced endometriosis comp ared to animals without disease. Peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid samples were obtained at laparoscopy from 60 baboons with a normal pe lvis (n = 23), spontaneous endometriosis (n = 19) and induced disease (n = 18) during menses (n = 9), follicular phase (n = 12), luteal phas e (n = 20), pregnancy or nursing (n = 11) and in non-cycling animals ( n = 8). The WBC concentration was analysed with a Coulter counter and fluorescent antibody cell separation (FACS) analysis was used to measu re cluster designation (CD)2, CD4, CD8, interleukin (IL)2R and leucine (Leu) M5 subsets. In peripheral blood, the percentage of CD4(+) and I L2R(+) cells was increased in baboons with stage II-IV spontaneous or induced endometriosis, suggesting that alterations in peripheral blood WBC populations may be an effect of endometriosis. In peritoneal flui d the WBC concentration and percentages of Leu M5(+) macrophages and C D8(+) lymphocytes were only increased in baboons with spontaneous endo metriosis and not in animals with induced disease, suggesting that alt erations in peritoneal fluid WBC populations may lead to the developme nt of endometriosis. In summary, the results of this study suggest tha t peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid immune cell populations are af fected in baboons with endometriosis.