Correlation of changes of (non)exfoliated endometrial organelles and expressions of Musashi-1 and β-catenin with endometriosis in menstrual period

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the correlation of structural changes of endometrial organelles and expressions of Musashi-1 (Msi-1) and β-catenin with the endometriosis (EMs) in the menstrual period. The structural changes of exfoliated and nonexfoliated endometrial organelles in the experimental group and the control group were observed by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on the first and fifth day of menstruation. (1) TEM: compared with the control group, the exfoliated endometrial organelles in the experimental group on the first day were rich, with irregular nucleus, the bi-nucleolus could be seen, with rich chromatin; while the shapes of epithelial secretory cells in the nonexfoliated endometrial gland were irregular, with abundant organelles, the basal film varied in width, with abnormal curvature, and a lot of intercellular collagen fibers could be seen. (2) The expressions of Msi-1 and β-catenin in the exfoliated and nonexfoliated endometrium of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group and exhibited positively correlation, while no correlation could be found within the control group. (1) The organelles’ structural changes might cause the changes of endometrial cellular functions. (2) Msi-1 might participate in the formation of EMs through activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Chinese abstract

本研究旨在探讨月经期子宫内膜细胞器结构的变化与子宫内膜异位症（EMs）Musashi-1蛋白（Msi-1）和β-联蛋白表达的相关性。我们在月经第1天和第5天通过透射电子显微镜（TEM）观察实验组和对照组脱落与非脱落子宫内膜细胞结构的变化。（1）透射镜结果：与对照组相比，实验组月经第1天子宫内膜脱落细胞丰富，核型不规则，可见双核，染色质丰富；而非脱落子宫内膜腺体上皮细胞形态不规则，细胞器丰富，基底膜薄厚不一、可见异常弯曲和大量的细胞间胶原纤维。（2）实验组脱落与非脱落子宫内膜Msi-1蛋白和β-联蛋白的表达明显高于对照组并显示正相关，而对照组中两者无相关性。（1）细胞器结果的变化可能会引起子宫内膜功能的改变。（2）Msi-1蛋白可能是通过激活Wnt/β-联蛋白信号通路参与子宫内膜异位症的形成。

• β-catenin
• endometriosis
• exfoliated endometrium
• Musashi-1
• nonexfoliated endometrium
• organelles