Comparative morphometric study of the endometrium, the fallopian tube, and the corpus luteum during the postovulatory phase in normally menstruating women.
OBJECTIVE
To compare function and histologic structure of the corpus luteum (CL) to the morphology of the endometrium and the fallopian tube in normally menstruating women.


METHODS
Circulating steroid and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were compared with CL steroid production in vitro and the histology of CL, endometrium, and the fallopian tube at four stages of the postovulatory phase (days LH +/- 0/LH+3, LH+4/LH+7, LH+8/LH+11, LH+12/onset of menstruation). SETTING OF PATIENTS: The study included 28 volunteers with proven fertility undergoing surgical sterilization timed in relation to the LH surge.


METHODS
Blood and urine samples for LH, progesterone (P), and estradiol assessment were obtained before (simultaneously with ultrasound examinations), during, and after operation. Biopsy specimens from CL, endometrium, and fallopian tube were taken at the surgical sterilization and subjected to morphometric analyses.


RESULTS
Significant correlation was found between the endometrial dating and the LH surge (r = 0.923) and between the dating of the endometrial and CL biopsies (r = 0.918). A significant correlation (P less than 0.01) existed between circulating P levels and two endometrial indices; the number of vacuolated cells (LH+4/LH+7) and the glandular diameter (LH+8/LH+11).


CONCLUSIONS
In normally menstruating women, the endometrial biopsy is likely to closely gauge the CL activity provided the biopsy is timed in relation to the LH surge.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Switzerland.
T
T
Kim-Björklund
B M
BM
Landgren
L
L
Hamberger
E
E
Johannisson
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008598:Menstruation; D012016:Reference Values
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone