Immunohistochemical detection of aquaporin expression in eutopic and ectopic endometria from women with endometriomas

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the expression of aquaporin (AQP) in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues from women with endometriomas.

Design: Controlled laboratory research.

Setting: Hospital-based unit for gynecology and obstetrics and research laboratories.

Patient(s): Premenopausal women undergoing laparoscopy for endometriomas.

Intervention(s): Endometrial biopsy samples obtained from 70 women with endometriomas.

Main outcome measure(s): Semiquantitative analysis by immunohistochemistry.

Result(s): Aquaporins 2, 5, and 8 were mainly located in luminal and glandular epithelia. The frequency of positive immunostaining for aquaporins 2, 5, and 8 decreased in ectopic compared with eutopic endometria. Aquaporins 2, 5, and 8 were found at a low frequency in the endometria in early proliferative phases but at a higher frequency in late proliferative and secretory phases. There were no significant differences in the menstrual cycle of the proliferative phase and secretory phase in the two groups.

Conclusion(s): Aquaporins 2, 5, and 8 were expressed with greater frequency in eutopic endometrial cells than inectopic endometrial cells, suggesting that eutopic endometrial cells have stronger migration activity than ectopic endometrial cells in women with endometriosis.