Adenylate cyclase in normal and leiomyomatous uteri

Abstract

Despite being one of the commonest pathologies of the uterus little is known regarding the aetiology of leiomyomata, however, recent evidence suggests an abnormality at the cellular level.This study was undertaken to examine the distribution of adenylate cyclase (AC) in myometrium and leiomyomata. Sections from normal and host myometria as well as from leiomyomata were stained with an antibody against AC V/VI using standard immunocytochemical methods. The percentage AC positivity in the tumours and in each region of the myometrium was calculated and statistically analysed. The tumours and the midmyometrium of normal myometria and host myometria had the highest levels of AC staining. Two of three characteristic cellular staining patterns showed significant differences between tissue types. The differences in staining may be related to the symptoms associated with the presence of leiomyomata and may also have an effect on their aetiology and/or the events occurring post-tumourigenesis.