Apoptosis of eutopic endometrial tissue is deficient in women with endometriosis

Apoptosis was evaluated by in situ analysis using the Apotag Plus Method (O ncor) in eutopic endometrial tissues from patients with and without endomet riosis (EDT). We found positive staining only in the glandular epithelium. The susceptibility of endometrial tissue to spontaneous apoptosis was signi ficantly tower in women with EDT than in controls. Decreased apoptosis of u terine endometrium from patients vs controls, was independent of cycle phas e. Among controls, the apoptosis increased at the fate secretory phase. Among patients, spontaneous apoptosis of eutopic endometrium was observed indepen dent of cycle phase and severity of the disease. We suggest that abnormal survival of eutopic endometrial cells contribute t o the pathogenesis of EDT.