Cell adhesion and apoptosis in ovarian stromal hyperplasia and hyperthecosis

The aim of our study was to investigate cell adhesion and apoptosis in ovarian stromal hyperplasia and hyperthecosis in reproductive women with and without polycystic ovarian disease. We have studied 104 patients with a histological diagnosis of ovarian stromal hyperthecosis and stromal hyperplasia. Paraffin sections were stained by hematoxylin-eosin, von Gieson and immunohistochemistry for Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic protein) and E-cadherin (cell adhesion marker). We assessed the number of Bcl-2-positive and E-cadherin-positive cells. The patients were divided into 4 groups: group 1-33 patients with polycystic ovarian disease and coexistent stromal hyperthecosis, group 2-28 patients with polycystic ovarian disease and coexistent stromal hyperplasia, group 3-24 patients with ovarian stromal hyperthecosis, group 4-19 patients with ovarian stromal hyperplasia. Our results suggest that in ovarian stromal hyperthecosis and stromal hyperplasia coexistent with polycystic ovarian disease, E-cadherin-positivity in internal and external theca cells, and granulosa cells is associated with Bcl-2 expression. Therefore, ovarian cells expressing Bcl-2 and maintaining E-cadherin-positivity may be the viable cells that escape the apoptotic process. In ovarian stromal hyperthecosis without polycystic ovarian disease, luteinized stromal cells are potentially resistant to apoptosis as they are positive for Bcl-2. In ovarian stromal hyperplasia without polycystic ovarian disease, hyperplastic stromal cells are potentially susceptible to apoptosis as they are negative for Bcl-2. E-cadherin is negative both in stromal hyperthecosis and hyperplasia suggesting that E-cadherin expression in ovary is limited to granulosa and theca cells only. Described characteristics of cell adhesion and apoptosis may play a role in pathogenesis of ovarian stromal hyperthecosis and stromal hyperplasia with and without polycystic ovarian disease.