PELVIC ADHESIONS CONTAIN SEX STEROID-RECEPTORS AND PRODUCE ANGIOGENESIS GROWTH-FACTORS

Objective: To evaluate Female pelvic adhesion tissue for the presence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), basic fibroblas tic growth factor (basic-FGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Design: Descriptive study. Setting: Patients al a tertiary med ical center. Patients: Female reproductive age patients undergoing gyn ecologic surgery who were not receiving hormonal therapy. Intervention s: Female reproductive tract peritoneal adhesion tissue was excised, f rozen, and sent for immunohistologic evaluation. Main Outcome Measure: Presence of ER, PR, basic-FGF, and VEGF in adhesion tissue. Results: Nineteen of 19 specimens were positive for PR; 16 of 19 specimens were positive for ER, which was present in a variety of the different cell types constituting adhesion. Vascular endothelial growth factor and b asic-FGF were detected in endothelial cells of blood vessels supplying this tissue as well as in mesothelial cells. Conclusion: Adhesion tis sue contains ER, PR, and growth factors that may be important in the g enesis of the permanent fibrovascular bands between pelvic organs. Thi s supports the theoretical possibility of hormonal manipulation of the se tissues to negatively influence postoperative pelvic adhesion forma tion. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.