Mitotic activity of smooth muscle cells of the myoma: Does hormonal stimulation have an effect on the number of mitoses?

Abstract

Myomas develop as a result of increased mitotic (proliferating) activity of smooth muscle cells. In this study we examined the pathohistological samples of 176 myomas and their endometria that were obtained after hysterectomy from patients in the proliferative (follicular) and secretory (luteal) phase of the menstrual cycle. We examined the mitotic activity of the myoma cells in both phases and established that the average number of mitoses in the proliferative phase was significantly larger compared to the secretory phase, and that in the proliferative phase of the cycle there exists a statistically significant convergent association of the number of mitoses in the endometrium and in myomas. The number of endometrial mitoses is significantly larger than in myomas in both phases of the cycle.