Walter I, Handler J, Reifinger M, Aurich C
Institute of Histology and Embryology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria.
Reproduction. 2001 Apr;121(4):581-6.
Periglandular fibrosis and cystic dilation of uterine glands are associated with equine endometriosis. The presence of extracellular matrix proteins (collagen type I, III and IV, laminin and fibronectin) in healthy and endometriotic specimens was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. The distribution of collagen I, but not collagen III, was dependent on the stage of the oestrous cycle. The arrangement of collagen I and collagen III in endometriotic specimens was similar to that in normal endometrium. In periglandular fibrosis, collagen IV, laminin and fibronectin deposition outside the basement membrane was observed. In these regions, stromal cells were characterized immunohistochemically as myofibroblasts because of their expression of a-smooth muscle actin, and occasionally tropomyosin and desmin. Periglandular differentiation of contractile cells could be interpreted as a reaction to support the extrusion of secretions in cystic dilated glands. Moreover, the changes of extracellular matrix proteins are characteristic for neoplastic lesions, although further development of endometriosis to benign or malignant tumours is not known in horses. Knowledge of the factors responsible for these fibroblastic modulations may be the key to explaining the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
腺周纤维化和子宫腺囊性扩张与马子宫内膜异位症相关。通过免疫组织化学证实了健康和子宫内膜异位标本中存在细胞外基质蛋白（I、III和IV型胶原蛋白、层粘连蛋白和纤连蛋白）。I型胶原蛋白的分布而非III型胶原蛋白的分布取决于发情周期阶段。I型胶原蛋白和III型胶原蛋白在子宫内膜异位标本中的排列与正常子宫内膜相似。在腺周纤维化中，观察到基底膜外有IV型胶原蛋白、层粘连蛋白和纤连蛋白沉积。在这些区域，基质细胞因表达α平滑肌肌动蛋白，偶尔表达原肌球蛋白和结蛋白，免疫组织化学特征为肌成纤维细胞。收缩细胞的腺周分化可解释为一种支持囊性扩张腺体内分泌物排出的反应。此外，细胞外基质蛋白的变化是肿瘤性病变的特征，尽管马子宫内膜异位症向良性或恶性肿瘤的进一步发展尚不清楚。了解导致这些成纤维细胞调节的因素可能是解释子宫内膜异位症发病机制的关键。
