elastin and Leiomyoma

We investigated the effect of relaxin on extracellular matrix remodeling in cultured myometrial compared with leiomyoma smooth muscle cells. Relaxin increases elastase activity and protease inhibitor expressions in myometrial smooth muscle cells, but no effect was observed in leiomyoma cells.

Topics: alpha 1-Antitrypsin; Cells, Cultured; Collagen; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Elastin; Extracellular Matrix; Female; Humans; Leiomyoma; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; Myometrium; Pancreatic Elastase; Protease Inhibitors; Relaxin; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2

To describe the histologic distribution of elastin in the nonpregnant human uterus, uterine leiomyomas, adenomyosis and adenomyomas.. Uteri were obtained from women undergoing hysterectomy for benign conditions, including 26 cases of uterine leiomyomas, 24 cases of adenomyosis, 18 adenomyomas and 6 cases of autopsy specimens. Specific histochemical staining techniques were employed in order to demonstrate the distribution of elastin.. The distribution of elastin components in the uterus was markedly uneven and showed a decreasing gradient from outer to inner myometrium. No elastin was present within leiomyomas, adenomyomas or adenomyosis.. The distribution of elastin may help explain the normal function of the myometrium in labor. It implies that the uneven distribution of elastin components and absence of elastin within leiomyomas, adenomyomas and adenomyosis could be of some clinical significance. The altered elastin distribution in disease states may help explain such symptoms as dysmenorrhea in uterine endometriosis.

Topics: Adenomyoma; Elastin; Endometriosis; Endometrium; Female; Humans; Leiomyoma; Myometrium; Uterus

The normal human cervix is a collagenous structure that undergoes a dramatic and probably unique metamorphosis in late pregnancy and labor, effacing and dilating without injury to permit the baby to pass through and, thereafter, returning in the course of a few weeks to its former state. In addition to collagen, the cervix contains small amounts of smooth muscle and elastic tissue, and it is unreasonable to presume they would be found here if they were not to have some function. Whatever this function may be, it appears to be secondary, and possibly supportive, to the role of the collagenous system. Coordinated uterine contractions are involved in the processes of effacement and dilatation of the cervix. However, they appear to be incidental rather than causative, being initiated by the same factors that are also responsible for the cervical changes. When these influences are withdrawn after delivery, remodeling processes begin and the cervix returns to its nonpregnant morphologic and functional state.

Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Cervix Uteri; Elastic Tissue; Elastin; Female; Humans; Hysterectomy; Infant, Newborn; Labor Onset; Labor, Obstetric; Leiomyoma; Muscle, Smooth; Pregnancy; Uterine Contraction; Uterine Neoplasms; Uterus

A unique case of a 71-year old woman with an unusual fibroma-like leiomyoma of the vulva in the region of the left Bartholin's gland is reported. Light microscopically the tumor resembled a fibroma, but electron microscopically the cells corresponded to modified smooth muscle cells. The great number of vessels and their intimate relation to the tumor cells is remarkable. In the intercellular space granular and fibrillar pseudoelastic material was found and thus the presence of collagen type III in addition to type I is suggested. In the region of the right Bartholin's gland a mesenchymal proliferation with similar histological features was seen but there was more resemblance to a conventional leiomyoma. The histogenesis remains obscure so that the designation of these lesions should include light microscopic and electron microscopic appearances as well as localization.

Topics: Aged; Elastin; Female; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Leiomyoma; Microscopy, Electron; Vulvar Neoplasms