Endometriosis is not only a chronic painful disease, but also one of the most common
causes of infertility. However, current therapeutic approaches are insufficient and
etiology of endometriosis is uncertain. Most critical to gain more knowledge about
this disease is an appropriate animal model. In this study, female marmoset monkeys
(n=10), aged more than 6 years, were exposed to different experimental procedures
for intrapelvic injection of endometrium by uterine flushing at several time points
throughout an experimental period of 2 years. Ovarian cycle length was monitored by
endocrine parameters and blood flow of the reproductive organs was analysed by colour
Doppler ultrasonography. First “endometriotic foci“ were detected by ultrasound after
5 months treatment. They were then surgically removed and analysed by histology, immunohistochemistry
and molecular biology. Clinical symptoms observed in treated monkeys were irregular
cycles and occurence of ovarian cysts. Colour doppler examination showed increase
of vascular supply in “endometriotic foci“, which were mainly located at the bladder,
the ovaries und the uterus. The presence of glandular tissue and stromal fibroblasts
of endometrial origin was confirmed by histology as well as by expression patterns
of steroid receptors, steroidogenic enzymes and VEGF.
In summary, our data suggest that endometriosis can artificially be induced in the
marmoset monkey at preferential peritoneal locations. Thus, the marmoset provides
a useful and unique primate model for the human disease.
This project was supported by SOLVAY Pharmaceuticals GmbH.
