Tabibzadeh S ¹, Miller S ², Dodson WC ² and Satyaswaroop PG ²

1 Department of Pathology, North Shore University Hospital, Biomedical Research Center, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, ² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Pennsylvania State University Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract

2. Introduction

3. Materials and methods

3.1. Isolation of endometrial tissue into glands and stromal cells and their intraperitoneal injection into athymic mice
3.2. Labeling of endometrial cell preparations with fluorescent, lipophyilic dye, DiO
3.3. Fluorescence, surgery and processing of tissues

4. Results

5. Discussion

6. References

1. ABSTRACT

Endometriosis is an adhesion disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue in ectopic sites outside the uterus. The disease is associated with dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain and infertility. Although endometriosis is the most common gynecologic disorder, relatively little is known regarding its etiology, pathogenesis and the course of the disease. This situation is primarily due to the absence of experimental systems to examine the mechanism of endometrial cell adhesion, role of inflammatory cells and the interactions of epithelial, and stromal cells with the peritoneum and ovarian tissue leading to the development of this disorder. Dissociated human endometrial cells were suspended in peritoneal fluids of individuals with and without endometriosis and were injected into the peritoneal cavity of athymic mice. This led to development of ectopic adhesions of endometrial cells at the peritoneal and ovarian surfaces. Endometrial cells which were marked with fluorescent lipophylic dyes, prior to intraperitoneal injection, could be visualized without surgery at such sites. The studies demonstrate a model for endometriosis in athymic mice.