Glucocorticoids do not share with progesterone the potent inhibitory action on prostaglandin synthesis in human proliferative phase endometrium.
The action of progesterone and glucocorticoids on human proliferative phase endometrium has been investigated using isolated fragments of endometrium cultured for 2 to 3 days. The action of progesterone (200-500 nM) in this system is to reduce prostaglandin F (PGF) production by 93 to 96%. This inhibition is considerably greater than the inhibitions observed using collagenase dispersed stromal or glandular cells. The addition of arachidonic acid (5 micrograms/ml) increased the production of the control wells but did not overcome the inhibitory effect of progesterone. When endometrial fragments were cultured for 48 hr in the presence of progesterone and subsequently homogenized and incubated, there was no difference in PG production between the progesterone treated tissue and the controls. In a separate series of experiments the effect of progesterone (500nM) was compared with cortisol (500nM) and the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (100nM) this dose of progesterone gave a 96% reduction in PGF synthesis but neither cortisol nor dexamethasone inhibited PGF production.
D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000096:biosynthesis
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011460:Prostaglandins F; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D011374:Progesterone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone