Phenotypic modulation of fibroblasts in massive ovarian edema: an immunohistochemical study of three cases.

An immunohistochemical study of three cases of massive ovarian edema revealed coexpression of vimentin, total actins, alpha-smooth muscle actin, desmin and low molecular weight cytokeratins in the stromal spindle cells composing the edematous ovarian tissue. In addition these stromal cells expressed smooth muscle myosin which is a marker for terminal smooth muscle differentiation. This remarkable fibroblastic cell plasticity in massive ovarian edema may represent yet another example of fibroblastic modulations occurring under the influence of microenvironmental stress factors.