Study of apoptosis in human uterine endometrium in different phases of the menstrual cycle

ABSTRACT

Our purpose is to investigate spontaneous apoptosis in the human uterine endometrium throughout different phases of the menstrual cycle and its possible role in regulation of the human menstrual cycle. Spontaneous apoptosis in forty endometrial biopsy specimens [obtained from forty healthy, fertile women with regular menstrual cycle at different phases of the cycle] was assessed with an ELISA- based cell death detection kit which is a highly specific assay for apoptosis Spontaneous apoptosis occurs in specific population of cells in the human uterine endometrium during three different phases of the menstrual cycle early proliferative [EP] [1.62 +/- 031 nm], late secretory [LS] [1.76 +/- 0.36 nm] and menstrual phase [M] [1.54 +/- 0.27 nm]. Apoptic changes during the menstrual cycle might play a pivotal role in the regulation of the cycle