Endothelin-1 and big endothelin-1 increase in human endometrium during menstruation

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 1995-11, Vol.173 (5), p.1483-1490
• Main Authors: Ohbuchi, Hiroko, Nagai, Kimihiro, Yamaguchi, Masatoshi, Ikenoue, Tsuyomu, Mori, Norimasa, Kitamura, Katzuo, Araki, Sanae, Toshimori, Kiyotaka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; big endothelin-1; Biological and medical sciences; Cross Reactions; Endometrium - metabolism; Endometrium - pathology; Endothelin-1; Endothelins - analysis; Endothelins - metabolism; Female; Genital Diseases, Female - metabolism; Genital Diseases, Female - surgery; Genital system. Mammary gland; human uterus; Humans; Hysterectomy; Immunohistochemistry; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; menstrual cycle; Menstrual Cycle - metabolism; Menstruation - metabolism; Myometrium - metabolism; Myometrium - pathology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Protein Precursors - analysis; Protein Precursors - metabolism; Radioimmunoassay; Uterus - metabolism; Uterus - pathology
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/0002-9378(95)90637-1

OBJECTIVES: Although the physiologic and pathologic roles of endothelin-1 in reproduction have been investigated, little is known about human uterine tissue levels. We studied the levels of immunoreactive endothelin-1 and immunoreactive big endothelin-1 in human endometrium and myometrium during each menstrual phase. STUDY DESIGN: Materials were obtained at hysterectomy (endometrium, n = 33; myometrium, n = 27). We measured immunoreactive endothelin-1 and immunoreactive big endothelin-1 by radioimmunoassay and performed an immunohistochemical study of the tissue. Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: We detected larger amounts of immunoreactive endothelin-1 and immunoreactive big endothelin-1 in the endometrium than in the myometrium throughout the menstrual, proliferative, and secretory phases. Endometrial immunoreactive endothelin-1 and immunoreactive endothelin-1 were significantly increased in the menstrual phase (endothelin-1 68.8 ± 23.3 pg/mg protein, n = 5, p < 0.005; big endothelin-1 45.2 ± 5.7 pg/mg protein, n = 5, p < 0.003) compared with the other phases (endothelin-1 30.7 ± 9.5 and 30.5 ± 14.0 pg/mg protein; big endothelin-1 19.9 ± 6.7 and 24.1 ± 7.4 pg/mg protein). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the endometrial stromal cells were positive for antiendothelin monoclonal antibody only in the premenstrual and menstrual phases. CONCLUSION: Levels of immunoreactive endothelin-1 and immunoreactive big endothelin-1 are different in each type of uterine tissue and in each phase of the menstrual cycle. These changes may indicate some role of endothelin-1 in menstruation.