Adenomyosis And Ovarian Endometriosis Is Associated With Ultrastructural Features In The Uterine Junction Zone And Cx43

Objective To research the relationship between the change of Cx43 and the ul-trastructure in the uterine junction zone with adenomyosis and ovarian endometriosis. Materials and Methords The immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of Cx43 in the uterine junction zone in 30 cases of AM,30 cases of OE and 30 matched normal uterine. Multiple samples were studied using transmission electron microscopy. Results The expression of Cx43 were lower in adenomyosis in the endometrium(P<0. 05). The expressions of Cx43 were lower in uterine junction zone in the proliferative phase of adenomyosis (P<0. 05) than normal one, but there were no significantly difference in the secretion phase ( P>0. 05). The expression of Cx43 were lower in ovarian endometriosis with endometrium (P<0.05)and junction zone(P<0.05)than in countral group,and there was no significantly differernce in adenomyosis and ovarian endometriosis between proliferative phase and secretory nither with endometrium nor with junction zone. Furthermore, the expression of Cx43 was no differernce in outer myometrium nither in adenomyosis and ovarian endometriosis nor in countral group(, P>0. 05). In uteri with adenomyosis, the myocytes exhibited cellular hypertrophy. The cytoplasmic myofilaments were less abundant. Abundant intermediate filaments formed cytoplasmic aggregates. The nuclei were bigger(21. 81±1.99 ,fxm2)fusiform in shape with blunt ends, centrally placed in the myocyte, and with a irregular outline prominent nucleoliand peripherally arranged nuclear chromatin. The sarcolemmal bands were significantly longer(1.07±0.17,fim) and there were fewer caveolae. The rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus were more prominent. In uteri with endometriosis, the myocytes exhibited cellular was not hypertrophy. The cytoplasmic myofilaments were also less abundant and abundant intermediate filaments formed cytoplasmic aggregates. The nuclei were smaller( 20. 50±2. 98, jum2) fusiform in shape with blunt ends, and with a irregular outline prominent nucleoli and peripherally arranged nuclear chromatin. The sarcolemmal bands were no longer(0. 40±0. 08,^m) and there were fewer caveolae. The rough endo-plasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus were little more. All features were more prominent at the junction zone than outer myometrium . Conclusions The expression of Cx43 were more in outer myometrium than junction zone than endometrium. The distribution trend of Cx43 were most in countral group and lest in ovarian endometriosis . The down - regulation of Cx43 in the junction zone may play important roles in adenomyosis and ovarian endometriosis. The cells of uteri harboring adenomyosi and ovarian endometriosis are ultrastructurally different from those of normal uteri. These ultrastructural changes suggest a possible defect in myometrial contractility, the relevant molecular mechanism requires further investigation.