Fractalkine in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of fractalkine in the ascites and the association between fractalkine levels in the ascites and endometriosis. METHODS: Peritoneal fluids and peripheral blood samples were obtained from patients undergoing laparoscopy for infertility work-up or laparoscopic cystectomy. Three samples of peritoneum were obtained from patients undergoing hysterectomy. Western blotting, RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed. RESULTS: Fractalkine protein was detected in the ascites. Positive staining was confirmed in peritoneal surface cells and perivascular cells of the peritoneum. CX3CR1 positive cells were present in the cells in the peritoneal fluid. The fractalkine concentrations in the ascites of patients with endometriosis were lower than those without endometriosis. There was no significant difference between serum fractalkine levels in patients with and without endometriosis. CONCLUSION: The decreased level of fractalkine found in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis.     

The echogenic endometrium and alterations during menstrual cycle

Endometrial echograms were obtained from 101 patients with a regular menses to investigate cyclic changes which occur during normal menstrual cycle.After the mid-secretory phase, a marked increase of the reflecting interfaces was evident within the endometrium and a thickened echogenic area was observed. Such were not evident during the proliferative phase.As the increased interfaces within the endometrium represent the effects of progesterone, an assessment of the endocrinological milieu is made feasible.     

子宫内膜异位症中Fractalkine及其受体CX3CR1的表达及相关性研究

目的:研究趋化性细胞因子(FKN)及其受体CX3CR1在子宫内膜异位症(EMs)组织、腹腔液、血清中的表达及其意义。方法:应用免疫组化法检测正常内膜和子宫内膜异位症患者在位内膜、异位内膜中趋化性细胞因子FKN及其受体CX3CR1的表达,同时利用酶联免疫法(ELISA)检测EMs患者腹腔液和血清中趋化性细胞因子FKN及其受体CX3CR1的含量。结果:(1)正常内膜组、在位内膜组、异位内膜组组织中FKN和CX3CR1的表达呈逐渐增高趋势(P<0.05);(2)在各内膜组中FKN的表达与CX3CR1的表达呈正相关(P<0.05);(3)FKN及其受体CX3CR1在异位症组腹腔液的表达高于对照组(P<0.05);(4)FKN及其受体CX3CR1在异位症组血清中的表达与对照组比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:趋化性细胞因子FKN及其受体CX3CR1参与了子宫内膜异位症患者腹腔内环境的改变;可能在在异位内膜的转移、种植中起了促进作用。     

骨桥蛋白在人子宫内膜、早孕蜕膜和绒毛中的表达及意义

目的:通过检测育龄妇女正常月经周期中不同时期的子宫内膜组织、早孕蜕膜和绒毛组织中骨桥蛋白(osteopontin,OPN)的表达,探讨OPN在子宫内膜表达的变化规律及其在胚胎着床过程中的作用。方法:采用免疫组化和逆转录聚合酶链反应等技术,检测正常月经周期的子宫内膜组织、早孕蜕膜、绒毛中骨桥蛋白的表达。结果:OPN在月经周期的各期子宫内膜均有表达,以分泌中期子宫内膜组织的表达最强,且分泌中、晚期的表达量明显高于增生期和分泌早期(P<0.05)。早孕蜕膜和绒毛组织中OPN均呈强表达,明显高于非孕各期子宫内膜组织(P<0.05)。结论:OPN mRNA及其蛋白在分泌中期(种植窗期)子宫内膜的表达明显升高,推测OPN可能与种植窗的开放密切相关。OPNmRNA及其蛋白在早孕蜕膜和绒毛组织中的表达水平进一步升高,提示OPN在胚胎着床后也有重要作用。     

Proliferation kinetics of human endometrium during the normal menstrual cycle.

A radioautographic analysis of the number and distribution of labeled nuclei after in vitro incorporation of radiothymidine was carried out in human endometrium during the normal menstrual cycle. The highest rates of proliferation were recorded on cycle days 8 to 10 in the upper one third of the functionalis layer. Coinciding with intraglandular secretory activity on cycle day 19, the rate of proliferation of gland cells decreased near zero levels and remained unchanged thereafter. Midsecretory phase arteriolar coiling and stromal predecidualization were associated with increased isotope incorporation. DNA synthesis in premenstrual endometrium was limited to the surface epithelium, predecidua, and vascular endothelium. The endometrium of the isthmus and cornual regions and of the basalis zone demonstrated relatively constant and comparatively lower rates of proliferation throughout the cycle. Regional and cellular variations in nucleic acid synthesis in cyclic endometrium are likely to reflect differences in physiologic functions in target cells in response to cyclic hormonal stimuli.     

Fluctuation of 6Ckine expression in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the expression of 6Ckine, a potential chemoattractant for endometrial natural killer (NK) cells, in the human endometrium. DESIGN: Experimental study. SETTING: Department of obstetrics and gynecology at a medical university. PATIENT(S): Fifty-seven fertile women 25 to 52 years of age who had regular menstrual cycles and normal endometrium and were undergoing hysterectomy. INTERVENTION(S): Endometrium was obtained from operative samples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Tissue was immunostained to determine the localization of 6Ckine in the endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle. The number of NK cells was counted in 10 nonoverlapping stromal areas. The concentration of 6Ckine in homogenized endometrium was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULT(S): Endometrial surface, glandular epithelial cells, and perivascular stromal cells were immunoreactive for 6Ckine throughout the menstrual cycle with some fluctuation. In addition, some T cells, NK cells, and macrophages in the stroma were immunoreactive for 6Ckine. The 6Ckine concentration was low in the proliferative phase but elevated in the secretory phase. It showed a moderate positive correlation with the number of endometrial NK cells. CONCLUSION(S): 6Ckine may be a potential chemoattractant for endometrial NK cells.     

Modulation of syndecans in the uterus throughout the menstrual cycle: comparison between endometrium and myometrium

Immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative analysis were used to examine and compare the expression of syndecans 1-4 in the endometrium and myometrium throughout the menstrual cycle. Syndecans molecules show different temporal and spatial expression during the menstrual cycle, and the modulation of syn-2 expression is statistically significantly correlated to morphologic and functional changes of the endometrium, particularly in the periovulatory period.     

Prolactin production by human endometrium during the normal menstrual cycle.

Prolactin (PRL) synthesis by human decidua from term pregnancies has been reported. The present study examined the tissue content and in vitro production of prolactin by "decidualized" and "nondecidualized" endometrium unassociated with pregnancy. Tissue obtained throughout the menstrual cycle was dated histologically. When proliferative endometrium (N = 16) or secretory endometrium prior to day 22 (N = 6) was examined, no PRL was detected in the tissue or medium after a 24-hour incubation at 37 degrees C in Gey's buffer. Total PRL in tissue and medium measured by radioimmunoassay increased significantly from 1.2 +/- 0.3 ng/100 mg of tissue at cycle days 22 to 24 (N = 4) to 5.3 +/- 2.4 ng/100 mg of tissue at cycle days 25 to 26 (N = 7). The addition of 100 micrograms/ml of cycloheximide to the medium prevented the net increase in PRL content during incubation. It is concluded that PRL is synthesized by endometrium during the normal menstrual cycle and that the appearance and degree of synthesis and decidualization of the stroma correspond.     

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the endometrium during the normal menstrual cycle

We investigated the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in normal endometrium. Hematoxylin and eosin stained slides of 100 endometrial curettage and biopsy specimens were reviewed for dating and presence of PMNs. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes were quantitated by chloroacetate esterase (CAE) stains. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes were present in large numbers in areas of tissue degradation (day 28 and menstrual phase endometrium) and were found only in small numbers in intact tissue throughout the cycle. The CAE and H&E stains showed minimal difference in ability to detect PMNs. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes could be easily discriminated from endometrial granulocytes, which did not stain with CAE.     

Histology of the baboon endometrium during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

The histologic characteristics of baboon endometrium during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy were studied and compared with those of human endometrium. Eight phases of endometrial change during the menstrual cycle are described. The samples were dated on the basis of sex skin changes. The basic histology of the baboon endometrium is similar to that of human endometrium, but some differences were observed. The growth of baboon endometrium is more sluggish, secretion is less intense, and many of the changes, especially in the stroma, are localized, less diffuse than they are in human endometrium. During pregnancy, decidual transformation in the baboon is much less intense than that in the human. No differences were observed between endometrium in association with preimplantation embryos and that from nonpregnant animals at comparable times following ovulation.     

Variation during the menstrual cycle of immune cell populations in human endometrium.

Morphometric analysis and immunohistology of tissue sections have been used to assess variation, during the normal menstrual cycle, of the bone marrow-derived cell populations in human endometrium. Levels of T cells and macrophages were found to be relatively constant throughout the cycle. In contrast, numbers of large granular lymphocytes, identified as being CD56-positive, were generally low between days 10 and 19, but increased sharply in the latter part of the luteal phase, decreasing again after menstruation. This LGL population is known to be abundant in first trimester pregnancy decidua, and is presumed to play a role in early pregnancy success.     

Levels of estrogen and progesterone receptor in human endometrium during the menstrual cycle.

Receptors for estrogens and progesterone have been assayed in 24 samples of normal human endometria at different phases of the menstrual cycle. In the proliferative endometrium the concentration of estrogen binding sites was significantly higher than that of progesterone receptor while, in the secretive endometrium, the concentration of estrogen receptor was low, compared to that of progesterone receptor. The highest concentration of both receptors was observed during the periovulatory period. From the correlation observed between estrogen and progesterone receptors and the levels of the respective steroids in the plasma, it is suggested that the levels of plasma estradiol or its own tissue receptor determine the synthesis of progesterone receptors in the periovulatory period.     

Endometrial L-selectin ligand is downregulated in the mid-secretory phase during the menstrual cycle in women with adenomyosis

Objective

Defects in L-selectin ligand (LSL) expression have been reported to cause implantation failure, but little is known about LSL expression in adenomyosis. This study evaluates LSL expression throughout the menstrual cycle in women with adenomyosis.