[Molecular biological aspects of the pathogenesis of adenomyosis]

The review of literature concerns some aspects of the pathogenesis of adenomyosis in terms of occurring molecular biological processes. It pools the literature data on endometrial capacity to be plunged into the deep myometrial layers--the expression of adhesive molecules, endometrial proteolytic activity, angiogenetic factors, and apoptosis-proliferation relationships. Evidence for the metaplastic theory of the disease is also presented. Emphasis is laid on the characteristics of a subendometrial zone whose pathology plays an important role in adenomyosis.