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Human Reproduction, Vol. 15, No. 7, 1462-1468, July 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Morphological changes in mesothelial cells induced by shed menstrual endometrium in vitro are not primarily due to apoptosis or necrosis

Ayse Y. Demir Weusten1,2,4, Patrick G. Groothuis1,3, Gerard A.J. Dunselman1,2, Anton F.P.M. de Goeij1,3, Jan Willem Arends1,3 and Johannes L.H. Evers1,2

1 Research Institute Growth and Development (GROW), Departments of 2 Obstetrics and Gynaecology and 3 Pathology, Academisch Ziekenhuis and Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

In a previous study on the pathogenesis of endometriosis, we observed that constituents of menstrual effluent induce morphological alterations in human mesothelial cells. In this study, we investigated whether these alterations were associated with apoptosis or necrosis or were the result of cellular remodelling. After overnight incubation of confluent monolayers of human omental mesothelial cells (HOMEC) with conditioned media prepared from menstrual effluent shed anterogradely, severe alterations in morphology were observed. Typical polygonal mesothelial cell cultures at confluency acquired elongated spindle morphology, resulting in gaps between the cells. In contrast, mesothelial cells from the control groups receiving culture medium only, retained a normal morphology. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that cytokeratin, vimentin and actin filaments were still present, homogeneously distributed in the cell cytoplasm following changes in morphology. To evaluate whether the morphological alterations were associated with apoptosis and/or necrosis, the cells were stained with the M30 CytoDeath antibody or annexin V with propidium iodide and analysed using flow cytometry. The results showed that only a small percentage (1–7%) of the affected HOMEC were undergoing apoptosis or necrosis. We conclude that the profoundly altered morphology of HOMEC is a result of cellular remodelling and that the role of apoptosis and necrosis is negligible. Soluble paracrine factors released by cells isolated from menstrual effluent shed anterogradely may induce a reorganization of the cytoskeleton. As a result, the underlying basement membrane will be exposed and the mesothelium may no longer prevent implantation of endometrium shed retrogradely into the peritoneum, thus facilitating the development of endometriosis.

Key words: apoptosis/endometriosis/mesothelium/morphology/necrosis

4 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Hospital Maastricht, Postbus 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. E-mail: demirweusten{at}yahoo.com


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