Apoptosis and proliferative activity in endometrium during peritoneal endometriosis.

Apoptosis and proliferative activity of the glandular epithelium and endometrial stroma in patients with peritoneal endometriosis and in women of reproductive age without endometriosis were studied at various stages of menstrual cycle. Differences in the intensity of apoptosis were revealed manifesting in changed expression of proteins in the glandular epithelium of patients with endometriosis during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle compared to normal. Proliferative activity of the glandular epithelium in the proliferative phase was higher than in the secretory phase. Our results suggest that the imbalance between apoptosis proteins in the endometrium plays a role in the pathogenesis of peritoneal endometriosis.