Tracing location by applying Emerald luciferase in an early phase of murine endometriotic lesion formation.

The pathogenesis of endometriosis has not been fully elucidated. We focused on the behavior of the ectopic endometrium, that is, the origin of the endometriotic lesion, before adhering to the peritoneal cavity. To observe lesion formation in the very early phase, we developed a novel endometriosis animal model using bioluminescence technology. We established a new transgenic mouse that expressed Emerald luciferase (ELuc) under the control of the CAG promoter. This transgenic mouse, called the CAG-ELuc mouse, showed strong bioluminescence emission; we succeeded in tracing the lesion location by the emission of ELuc. The accuracy of tracing by ELuc was high (57.7-100% of correspondence) and depended on the dosage of E2 administration. In the very early phase after transplantation, the process of lesion formation can be observed non-invasively and chronologically. We have verified that the preferred location of the uterus (transplanted grafts) was fixed immediately after the transplantation of the grafts.

Calcified Ovarian Fibromas Complicated with Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome.

Basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS) is a rare neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by tumorigeneses such as basal cell carcinomas, jaw cysts, ovarian fibromas, and cardiac fibromas. We present a 24-year-old female with calcified ovarian fibromas associated with BCNS. She had a surgical history of the maxillary cyst and was diagnosed with BCNS due to the cutaneous pits. Magnetic resonance imaging indicated an 8-cm mass and a 4-cm mass, which had been suspected to be a subserosal myoma and a fibroma, respectively. GnRH agonist was preoperatively administered; however, the size of the masses did not change. In laparoscopy, a tumor consisting of 8- and 5-cm masses in the right ovary was identified, and tumorectomy was performed. Because both tumors were extraordinarily rigid and could not be morcellated with scalpels or scissors, we removed them by the Luer Bone Rongeurs with minilaparotomy. The histopathological diagnosis was the ovarian fibromas with marked calcification.

A Case Report of an Accessory and Cavitated Uterine Mass Treated with Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy.

Accessory and Cavitated Uterine Mass (ACUM) is a condition defined by the presence of a non-communicating uterine mass close to the insertion of the round ligament. ACUM is a rare Müllerian anomaly found in young women and is diagnosed by the presents of a central cavity in the uterus, lined by functional endometrium, and surrounded by a ring of smooth muscle. In most cases, surgical treatment is recommended due to severe dysmenorrhea. Herein, we present a case of a woman with severe dysmenorrhea since adolescence which was not relieved with any form of hormonal treatment. ACUM was suspected preoperatively based on MRI findings, and she was treated with total laparoscopic hysterectomy. A uterine mass was found at the insertion of the right round ligament during surgery. All her symptoms improved after resection.

Animal models for research on endometriosis.

Endometriosis results from the aberrant growth of endometrium outside the inner lining of the uterine cavity. Similar to humans, the primates also menstruate and hence, the primate models constitute the gold standard for studying the pathogenesis and potential treatment for this disabling disease in women. Due to the expense in carrying endometriosis research in primates, other models have been developed for understanding the pathobiology and potential treatment of endometriosis. This includes explanting human endometrial tissues in athymic nude mice or using homologous mouse models. Here, we examine the murine models of endometriosis, the impact of forced induced inflammation on its development, similarities in the gene expression profile in the endometriotic tissues in such models with that seen in human endometriosis, and the drugs that are being used in such models as potential new treatment for endometriosis.