[Cytochrome P-450 aromatase expression in the ectopic and eutopic endometrium in endometriosis]

An immunoperoxidase test was used to reveal the expression of cytochrome P-450 aromatase in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of 14 patients with ovarian endometriosis and 26 with adenomyosis, whose age ranged from 21 to 47 years (38+/-2.0 years). Five endometrial samples taken at autopsy from the women who had died from injuries at ages of 32 to 47 years and who had no uterine or ovarian abnormities served as the control. Control observations revealed no aromatase expression by endometrial epithelial and stromal cells. Aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium was found in patients with ovarian endometriosis and adenomysis in 80 and 58% of cases, respectively; while that in the ectopic endothelium was in all cases in both groups. In external genital endometriosis, the sensitivity and specificity of the test were 75 and 100%, respectively. In the glandular and stromal epithelium of both the ectopic and eutopic endometrium, aromatase expression increased with the higher extent of endometriosis.