title: The role of c-jun protein in proliferation and apoptosis of the endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle.
abstract: Proliferation and apoptosis of the endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle were evaluated. Sections from 30 premenopausal women were examined using antibodies of c-jun protein, c-fos protein, estrogen receptors alpha and beta (ER-alpha and ER-beta), progesterone receptor (PR), and Ki-67. Apoptotic cells were identified using a modified terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated biotinylated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. The cyclic changes of c-jun protein, c-fos protein, ER-alpha, PR, and Ki-67 were shown in glandular epithelial cells. Although the stromal expression of ER-alpha decreased during the secretory phase, a high stromal expression of c-jun protein and PR was still observed during the late secretory phase. The expression of ER-beta appeared lower as compared with that of ER-alpha, without a cyclic change. The apoptotic index was significantly elevated in the glandular epithelial cells of the late secretory phase, whereas a few apoptotic cells were detected in the stromal cells at any stage of the cycle. The cyclic change of c-jun protein probably plays an important role in proliferation and apoptosis of glandular epithelial cells. The persistent stromal expression of c-jun protein and PR is thus considered to prevent stromal cells from entering into apoptosis during the late secretory phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Udou
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hachisuga
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsujioka
authors.forename: Tatsuhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawarabayashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000032:analysis; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen