Role of plasminogen activators during healing after uterine serosal lesioning in the rat  Ujjwal Kumar Rout, Ph.D., Michael P. Diamond, M.D.  Fertility and Sterility  Volume 79, Issue 1, Pages 138-145 (January 2003) DOI: 10.1016/S0015-0282(02)04569-7

FIGURE 1 Relative abundance of t-PA and u-PA transcripts in uterus and uterine–peritoneal adhesions during its progression. The relative abundance of t-PA and u-PA transcripts in the tissues of adhesions (details in Materials and Methods section), varied significantly (P<.05) during the course of adhesion formation. The t-PA levels (A) remained low during the progression of adhesion until day 5. At day 7 after surgery, it reached the untraumatized basal level (BL). The u-PA transcript levels (B) fluctuated during the course of adhesion formation. It was significantly higher (P<.05) during 24 hours and day 5 after surgery representing a biphasic expression profile during the week of adhesion progression. By day 7 after adhesion progression, the u-PA transcript levels were higher compared to basal levels detected at the untraumatized site; however, the difference was not statistically significant (P<.05). *Significantly higher than others. **Significantly higher than the untraumatized site (BL) and adhesion tissues at 6, 12, and 48 hours. Rout. Plasminogen activators and adhesion development. Fertil Steril 2003. Fertility and Sterility 2003 79, 138-145DOI: (10.1016/S0015-0282(02)04569-7)

FIGURE 2 Immunocytochemical detection of t-PA in the tissues of adhesion. In day 3 adhesions (A–D), cells at the contact sites of omentum (Om: arrows) and denuded uterine surface (Ut: arrowhead) showed perinuclear stains (A). Cells migrating from the uterine part of adhesion into the omentum (B: arrows) and adipose tissues (C: arrow in box; D: arrow in the magnified view of box area from C) showed faint perinuclear stain. Cells in the tube-like structures stained strongly (D: arrowhead). Bundles of muscle tissues are shown by arrowheads (B and C). In day 5 adhesions (E), blood vessels of different sizes at the adhesive zones of uterus and omental tissues (arrows) stained. In day 7 adhesions (F), staining was prominent at the surface layers of adhesion tissues (arrow) and in the muscle bundles (arrowhead) that were separated by negatively stained lace-like collagens (Col). Cells in antimesentric perimetrium (Pm) of uterus (G) stained strongly. Glands (arrowheads) and luminal epithelium (arrow) of uterus (H) also showed strong stains. No staining was detected when primary antibody was replaced with nonimmune IgG (I). Magnifications: A and G, ×40; B, ×5; C, E, H and I, ×10; F and D, ×20. Rout. Plasminogen activators and adhesion development. Fertil Steril 2003. Fertility and Sterility 2003 79, 138-145DOI: (10.1016/S0015-0282(02)04569-7)

FIGURE 3 Immunocytochemical detection of u-PA in the tissues of adhesion. In day 3 adhesions (A–D), cells at the contact sites of omentum (Om) and denuded uterine surface (Ut) showed perinuclear stain (arrow in A). Margin of uterine tissue, not in contact with omentum, stained (arrowheads in A). Outer surface of omentum occasionally stained (big arrow in B). Migratory cells forming tube-like protrusions into omentum (arrowheads in B) stained poorly. Expanded structures (box in B; arrowheads in the enlarged view C) formed by the migratory cells, when in proximity to newly formed blood vessels (Bv), lined internally with u-PA-positive cells (enlarged in C). Endothelial lining (arrowheads) and tunica media (arrow) of newly formed blood vessels stained (D). In day 5 adhesions (E), walls of sprouting blood vessels stained. In day 7 adhesions (F and G), faintly stained muscle (Ms), fibrous (Fbr), and connective tissues (Con) were separated by negatively stained tortuous lace-like collagen (Col). Perimetrium (Pm) at the antimesentric surface of uterus (H) contained u-PA-positive cells. Smooth muscle cells (big arrow), glands (small arrow), and luminal epithelium (not shown) in uterus (I) also stained. Magnifications: A, C, D, G, H and I, ×40; B and E, ×5; F, ×10. Rout. Plasminogen activators and adhesion development. Fertil Steril 2003. Fertility and Sterility 2003 79, 138-145DOI: (10.1016/S0015-0282(02)04569-7)