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Expression of gap junction connexins in the human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle

1995; Oxford University Press; Volume: 10; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a135764

1460-2350

Ellen Jahn, I. Claßen-Linke, M. Kusche, H. M. Beier, Otto Traub, Ruth Grümmer, Elke Winterhager,

Connexins and lens biology

Expression of connexins, the proteins which comprise gap junction channels, is regulated by ovarian hormones in the female reproductive tract of rodents. In order to determine if these hormones also affect connexin expression in the human uterus, the distribution patterns of different connexins (c×26, c×32, c×43) were investigated by immunohistochemistry in human endometrial tissue collected throughout the menstrual cycle. During the early proliferative phase of the cycle extremely low staining for connexin 43 was observed and connexin 26 antigens could not detected. An increase in the amount of connexin 43 stromal cells and of connexin 26 in glandular and luminal epithelial cells was seen from days 11–15 of the cycle. Following ovulation, the expression of both connexinswas suppressed and was completely abolished in the late secretory phase. Weak staining for connexin 32 was foundmainly in the late proliferative and the early secretory phase and was restricted to the basal membrane region the glandular cells. These results suggest that the different onnexins could represent cell biological markers for the proliferation and differentiation of the human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle.