Table 1 Studies on factors regulating steroid synthesis in eutopic endometrium during ovarian endometriosis^a

Noble et al., 1997 [14]

OE [CE (n = 7), EE (n = 2), EC (n = 4)]

Biochemical assay, qRTPCR

Low basal activity in EE but not reported for CE. Details of fertility status and phase of cycle was not provided.

Velasco et al., 2006 [15]

PE, OE [CE (n = 12), EE (n = 54), EC (n = 61)]

IHC

No immunopositive aromatase detected in CE and EE, while 61% of EC samples showed aromatase activity. Higher in secretory phase and in severe stage. No combinatorial analysis done. No details of fertility history was provided.

Aghajanova et al., 2009 [16]

PE, OE, DIE [CE (n = 13, EE (n = 29)]

qRTPCR, IHC

Aromatase mRNA expression was 14.5-fold upregulated, with no change in STAR, CYP11A1,HSD3B1, 2, CYP17A1 and HSD17B1, 2 in EE as compared to CE during mid-secretory phase of cycle. Fertility status was undefined.

Colette et al.,2009 [17]

OE, PE, RV [CE (n = 10), EE_EC (n = 56)]

IHC, WB in CE, EE and EC during both phases of menstrual cycle

Aromatase mRNA and protein were not detectable cycle. Perls’ stain^b positive siderophages were immunopositive for aromatase. Fertility history was not reported.

Delvoux et al., 2009 [18]

OE, DIE, SE [CE (n = 20), EE_EC (n = 14)]

Biochemical assay, HPLC

Aromatase activity was not detected in any tissue.No difference in reductive-oxidative activities of 17β-HSDs between CE and EE was observed. Details of menstrual cycle phase and fertility history were not reported.

Noel et al., 2011 [19]

PE, OE, DIE[CE (n = 16), EE_EC (n = 72)]

IHC. No details of stages of endometriosis, phases of menstrual cycle

No immunoreactivity of SF-1 was observed in EE. No details of stages of endometriosis, phases of cycle and fertility history was provided.

Huhtinen et al. 2012 [12]

PE, OE, DIE

[CE (n = 11), EE (n = 17),

EC (n = 18)]

qRTPCR

Generally, very low expression levels for mRNAs of CYP19A1 and HSD17B1, while high expression levels for HSD17B2, more during secretory phase, was detected in CE and EE with no difference between the groups. No details of stages of endometriosis and fertility history was provided.