An immunohistochemical study of the rete ovarii and epoophoron

A study to compare the immunohistochemical profile of the human rete ovarii , and epoophoron, with the Fallopian tube and ovarian surface epithelium wa s performed with 31 antibodies and antisera. A reaction was present in the epithelial cytoplasm of the rete ovarii and epoophoron of mesonephric origi n, for vimentin, GFAP, cytokeratin markers, (AE1/AE3, MNF116; Cam 5.2, 34 b eta E12 and for the monospecific antibodies to cytokeratins 7 and 19), heat shock protein 27, in the cell membrane for HBME-1, EMA and in the subepith elial collagen for collagen IV. Reactions were present only in the epitheli um in the rete ovarii for EGFR (one case) and CA-125 (four cases). A reacti on was present in the epithelium of the epoophoron only for Ber-EP-4 and S1 00. There was no reaction with antibodies for desmin, neurofilament protein , cytokeratins 20 or 14, actin, calretinin, E-cadherin, C-erb-B-2,, or CEA (monoclonal and polyclonal reagents). The immunohistochemical profile of th e Fallopian tube was consistent with its paramesonephric origin and that in the ovarian surface epithelium was consistent with a proposed modified mes othelial origin. This study provides an immunohistochemical profile of these structures with a large panel of commonly available antibodies and antisera, confirming an d extending the findings described in previous studies.