Objective: To clarify the inhibitory effect of GnRH agonist on estrone (E(1)) sulfatase expression.
Design: Retrospective immunohistochemical study.
Setting: The Jikei University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Patient(s): Thirty-three women who had undergone cystectomy of the ovary or oophorectomy and were proved histopathologically to have cystic endometriosis in the ovary.
Intervention(s): Fifteen of the 33 patients were treated with GnRH agonists monthly for 2-6 months before surgery. The other 18 patients did not receive any hormonal therapy. Tissue sections were immunostained with an anti-E(1) sulfatase monoclonal antibody (KM1049) originating from human placenta.
Main outcome measure(s): Microscopic evaluation to assess the presence and localization of E(1) sulfatase and to describe any variations in its expression with or without treatment with GnRH agonist.
Result(s): Immunostaining showed that E(1) sulfatase was localized only on the glandular epithelial cells of cystic endometriosis in the ovary. The immunostaining with anti-E(1) sulfatase proved that GnRH agonist inhibited E(1) sulfatase expression in the cystic endometriosis in the ovary.
Conclusion(s): Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist inhibits E(1) sulfatase expression in cystic endometriosis in the ovary.