Detection of aromatase in human endometrial tissuecultured in three-dimensional fibrin matrix in vitro

Background: endometriosis is the presence of endometrial glandular and stromal cellsoutside of the uterine cavity. our previous study showed that in vitro culture of humanendometrial tissue in a three-dimensional (3d) fibrin matrix could mimic the earlystages of endometriosis with invasion, gland and stroma formation and sprouting of newvessels.objective: the objective of the present study was to evaluate the expression ofaromatase in in vitro cultured endometrial fragments.materials and methods: endometrial samples obtained from the fundus of the uterinecavity of ten normal ovulating women on cycle days19-24 that referred to torontocenter for advanced reproductive technology (t.c.a.r.t) for infertility treatment andcultured in vitro by a three-dimensional fibrin matrix culture system. cultures wereperformed in 24-well culture plates.results: after 4 weeks, the tissues were fixed and blocked for immunostaining. theywere stained by anti-aromatase antibodies. although a fine anti-glycodelin positiveglandular epithelium and anti-cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2) positive new vessels weredetected and reported in our previous study, we were unable to detect any aromataseactivity in the cultured fragments.conclusion: no aromatase activity was detected in the 3d cultured endometrial tissue.although it is reported that aromatase is expressed in endometrial disease, it is possiblynot expressed in this phase in normal endometrium.