Vol 49, No 3 (2011)
Original paper
Published online: 2011-10-28
Processes of apoptosis and cell proliferation in uterine myomas originating from reproductive and perimenopausal women
DOI: 10.5603/FHC.2011.0056
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2011;49(3):398-404.
Abstract
We studied uterine myomas originating from females of reproductive age and from females of perimenopausal
age. Uterine myomas represent benign tumors of the myometrium, and they develop frequently in
women of reproductive age. The frequency of uterine myomas increases with age until women reach the menopause.
The study included patients with a myomatous uterus, in the reproductive age or peri-menopausal age,
independently evaluating small and large myomas. Myometrial alterations in their direct vicinity were evaluated
independently of the myomas. The study included evaluation of immunolocalization of two index proteins which
participate in myoma cells growth control: Ki-67 nuclear antigen and caspase 3. In women of reproductive age,
both in small and large myomas, elevated immunostaining of Ki-67 was noted in parallel to low levels of caspase 3
staining, which indicated the ongoing process of proliferation. In women of peri-menopausal age with small or
large myomas, no Ki-67 immunostaining was detected, while staining of caspase 3 manifested low levels. Proliferation
in reproductive age women myomas is higher than in the peri-menopausal age. (Folia Histochemica et
Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 398–404)
Keywords: apoptosiscell proliferationuterine myomasKi-67caspase 3
![](https://journals.viamedica.pl/plugins/generic/popups/images/icons/close.png)