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Objective: To analyze the expression of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors in the smooth muscle component (SMC) of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE)., Design: A prospective clinical and pathologic study of 60 cases of DIE., Setting: University Hospital Department of Gynacology., Patient(s): Sixty patients with symptomatic DIE (uterosacral endometriosis n = 14; bladder endometriosis n = 10; colonic endometriosis n = 16; rectovaginal endometriosis n = 20)., Intervention(s): Laparoscopic surgery., Main Outcome Measure(s): The expression of ER and PR was studied by immunohistochemistry in the SMC directly around endometriotic foci and at distance (at least >1.5 cm) from them in correlation with proliferative and secretory phases of cycle., Results: The ER and PR were present in the SMC of DEI in each location excepting colonic endometriosis where ER were absent. Independently of cycle's phases the PR were more abundant than ER. With the exception of rectovaginal endometriosis, where the ER and PR were more abundant in the proliferative than in the secretory phase, in other locations the ER and PR did not differ significantly with cycle's phases. Last, if ER and PR were more abundant in SMC around endometriotic foci than at a distance from them. However, the difference was not significant., Conclusions: Our data substantially confirm for the first time that in various forms of DIE, ER and PR are present not only in glands and stroma but also in the smooth muscle major histologic component of this disease., (Copyright 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate a possible role for nerve growth factor (NGF) in the mechanism of pain and hyperalgesia induced by deep adenomyotic nodules and other forms of endometriosis and to clarify the relationship between endometriotic lesions and the surrounding nerves., Methods: Endometriotic lesions (deep adenomyotic nodules, peritoneal endometriosis, ovarian endometriosis) and eutopic endometrium were obtained from 51 patients presenting with pain. Patients were allocated to two groups (group 1: patients with a deep adenomyotic nodule (n = 23); group 2: patients with peritoneal and/or ovarian endometriosis but without deep adenomyotic nodule (n = 28). Immunohistochemistry with antibodies against NGF, NGF specific tyrosine-kinase receptor (Trk-A) and S-100 protein was performed. Results were expressed as mean H-scores +/- SD, and correlated with the presence of hyperalgesia., Results: The percentage of patients presenting hyperalgesia at physical examination was significantly higher in group 1 (96%) than in group 2 (11%) (P < 0.001). NGF expression was significantly stronger in deep adenomyotic nodules (DAN) than in ovarian (OE) and peritoneal endometriosis (PE), both in the proliferative phase in the glands [DAN: 226 +/- 18; OE: 140 +/- 9 (P < 0.001); PE: 110 +/- 7 (P < 0.001)] and in the stroma [(DAN: 204 +/- 21; OE: 125 +/- 15 (P < 0.001); PE: 100 +/- 9 (P < 0.01)]. NGF expression in DAN is also significantly stronger than in OE and PE in the secretory phase in the glands [DAN:181 +/- 32; OE: 85 +/- 3.3 (P < 0.001); PE: 65 +/- 9 (P < 0.001)] and in the stroma [DAN: 173 +/- 28; OE: 85 +/- 3.7 (P < 0.001); PE: 35 +/- 13 (P < 0.001)]. Perineurial and intraneurial invasion by endometriotic lesions were found only in deep adenomyotic nodules and not in the other forms of endometriosis. The specific receptor for NGF (Trk-A) is expressed in all the nerves that were included in the biopsies., Conclusions: These results suggest a role of NGF in endometriotic pain and hyperalgesia in deep adenomyotic nodules. The strong expression of the NGF-TrkA pathway in deep adenomyotic nodules could explain why this type of lesion infiltrates in richly innervated anatomical sites.

Study Objective: To assess the impact of laparoscopic resection of endometriotic nodules in the rectovaginal pouch of Douglas on women's pain symptoms, analgesic intake, work absenteeism, work difficulties, and some elements of sex life., Design: Observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2)., Setting: Gynecology department at a university hospital., Patients: Twenty-six women with rectovaginal pouch of Douglas endometriotic nodules and no evidence of other potential cause of pain at physical examination, laparoscopy, and transvaginal ultrasonography., Intervention: Laparoscopic resection of endometriotic nodules with the CO2 laser until no residual induration was felt in surrounding tissues., Measurements and Main Results: Significant statistical differences were found between preoperative and postoperative pain scores, percentages of women absent from work, percentages taking analgesics or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and percentages having work difficulties due to pain. A significant difference also was found in frequencies of sexual desire and coitus., Conclusion: Endometriotic nodules in the rectovaginal pouch of Douglas may be responsible for major pelvic pain and also for sexual dysfunction (lack of sexual desire, dyspareunia). Laparoscopic resection of the nodules significantly improves these conditions. (J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc 8(1):55-60, 2001)

The histological relationships between fibrotic tissue, endometriotic foci and nerves in the rectovaginal septum endometriotic or adenomyotic nodule were studied. This is considered to be one of the most severe forms of deep endometriosis. Masson's trichrome staining for fibrosis detection and immunohistochemistry with the S100 monoclonal antibody for nerve detection were performed in 28 rectovaginal endometriotic nodules from patients presenting with severe dysmenorrhoea and deep dyspareunia (23 patients with no other endometriotic location or potential cause of pain at laparoscopy and ultrasonography; five patients with multiple pelvic endometriotic localizations and other potential causes of pain at laparoscopy). Patients were allocated to two groups on the basis of their preoperative pain scores for pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea and deep dyspareunia (group 1, score >7; group 2, score < or =7). For each symptom, the mean number of nerves and endometriotic lesions per high-power field and the mean largest diameter of the lesions were not statistically different in groups 1 and 2. The mean percentages of nerves located within the fibrosis of the nodule and within endometriotic lesions were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. Among nerves located within endometriotic lesions, there was a significantly higher proportion showing intraneurial and perineurial invasion by endometriosis in group 1 than in group 2. In rectovaginal endometriotic nodules, there was a close histological relationship between nerves and endometriotic foci, and between nerves and the fibrotic component of the nodule. We postulate that such topographical relationships could at least partially explain the strong association between this lesion and pain.