1 research outputs found
Endometrial nerve fibres in endometriosis
Endometriosis is a common gynaecological disease that can cause severe
pelvic pain such as dysmenorrhoea and dyspareunia, however the
mechanisms by which pain is generated are not well understood. Nerve
fibres in endometriotic plaques have been reported by several authors.
We have recently demonstrated the presence of unmyelinated sensory
nerve fibres (using the pan-neuronal marker PGP9.5) in the functional
layer of endometrium in women with endometriosis and a significantly
increased nerve fibre density in endometrium and myometrium in women
with endometriosis compared with women without endometriosis. Sensory C
nerve fibres were only detected in the functional layer of endometrium
of women with endometriosis and never in women without endometriosis.
This finding is so consistent that it may become an effective means of
making the diagnosis of endometriosis. Nerve fibres expressing a range
of neuronal markers and an over-expression of nerve growth factor (NGF)
and nerve growth factor receptor (NGFRp75) were also demonstrated in
peritoneal endometrial plaques in women with endometriosis. Effects of
currently available medications for endometriosis on nerve fibres in
eutopic endometrium in hormonally treated women have been also studied.
This review will describe nerve fibres in eutopic endometrium and
ectopic endometriotic plaques in women with endometriosis