Apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis

Objective: To evaluate and compare spontaneous apoptosis and Bcl-2 and Bax expression in eutopic endometrium from women with and without endometriosis . Design: Apoptosis and Bcl-2 and Bax expression were examined in eutopic end ometrium from women with and without endometriosis. Setting: Institute de Biologia y Medicina Experimental-CONICET. Department of Gynecology and Department of Gynecological Pathology, Clinicas Universit y Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Patient(s): Women with untreated endom etriosis (n = 14) and controls (n = 16). Intervention(s): Collection of endometrial samples during diagnostic or the rapeutic laparoscopy. Main Outcome Measure(s): Apoptotic cells were detected with use of the dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay; Bcl-2 and Bax expressions were assessed w ith use of immunohistochemical techniques. Result(s): Spontaneous apoptosis was significantly lower in eutopic endomet rium from patients with endometriosis, compared with healthy controls (2.26 +/- 0.53 and 9.37 +/- 1.69 apoptotic cells/field, respectively) and was in dependent of cycle phase. An increased expression of Bcl-2 protein was foun d in proliferative eutopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis. Ba x expression was absent in proliferative endometrium, whereas there was an increase in its expression in secretory endometrium from both patients and controls. Conclusion(s): Women with endometriosis show decreased number of apoptotic cells in eutopic endometrium. The abnormal survival of endometrial cells ma y result in their continuing growth into ectopic locations. (Fertil Steril (R) 2000;74:760-66. (C) 2000 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine. ).