Abstract: Objective To investigate the expressions and mutual relationship of Galectin-3 and β-catenin in endome⁃ triosis (EM). Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect expression levels of Galectin-3 and β-catenin and their mutual relationship in expression was also examined. Samples were collected from ectopic endometrium of patients with en⁃ dometriosis (ectopic endometrium group, n=34), eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis (eutopic endometrium group, n=34) and normal endometrium from people without endometriosis (control group, n=30). Results The expressions of Galectin-3 were seen in 88.2%, 85.3%, 50.0% of cases in ectopic endometrium group, eutopic endometrium group and control group respectively. On the other hand, the expression of β-catenin were seen in 55.9%, 52.9%, 26.7% of cases in ecto⁃ pic endometrium group, eutopic endometrium group and control group respectively. In EMs patients, the expression of Galec⁃ tin-3 and β-catenin were significantly higher in ectopic endometrium and eutopic endometrium than those in normal endome⁃ trium group（P＜0.05）. Expression of Galectin-3 was positive correlated with expression of β-catenin（rs=0.512, 0.428, P＜ 0.01）. Conclusion Galectin-3 and β-catenin may play important roles synergistically in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Key words: Galectin 3, beta catenin, endometriosis, immunohistochemistry