EXPRESSION OF SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE (SOD) IN ADENOMYOSIS

OBJECTIVE: To assess the expression of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in periton eal fluid and ectopic endometrium from women with adenomyosis. STUDY D ESIGN: The levels of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD were measured in peritoneal fluid from infertile women who did not have endometriosis (n = 27), wo men with adenomyosis (n = 22), and women with endometriosis (n = 15). The expression of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD messenger ribonucleic acids in ectopic endometrium was investigated by Northern blot analysis. Mn-SOD in ectopic endometrium was investigated by immunohistochemical staini ng. RESULTS: The levels of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD were significantly hig her in the peritoneal fluid from women with adenomyosis than in those with endometriosis or infertile women. Mn-SOD was highly expressed in ectopic endometrium, but Cu,Zn-SOD was not. Mn-SOD was detected in ect opic endometrium of women with adenomyosis. CONCLUSIONS: These data sh ow that reactive oxygen produced in adenomyosis may induce Mn-SOD in e ctopic endometrium, which results in the release of relatively large a mounts of this protein into the peritoneal fluid. These results sugges t that free radicals may play a role in the pathogenesis of adenomyosi s, the same as they do in other inflammatory processes.