Distribution of cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and cytosolic phospholipase A2 in the luteal phase human endometrium and ovary.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the distribution of the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) in the human ovary and endometrium.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
Hospital-based unit for reproductive health and research laboratories.


METHODS
Twenty-nine healthy fertile women with normal menstrual cycles.


METHODS
Endometrial and ovarian biopsy samples were obtained from healthy, fertile women in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle or during caesarean section.


METHODS
Pinopode formation and immunohistochemical staining of cPLA(2), COX-1, and COX-2.


RESULTS
In the endometrium, the immunostaining of cPLA(2) was most intense in the luminal epithelium when pinopodes were present. The staining of both COX-1 and COX-2 was most intense in the epithelial cells, with the stroma staining positive only for COX-2. The endometrial vessels expressed COX-2 but not COX-1. The staining of COX-1 and COX-2 was intense on the surface epithelial cells on the outer lining of the ovary.


CONCLUSIONS
This study details the distribution of these prostaglandin synthase enzymes and emphasizes their importance for the functions of both the endometrium and the ovary.
Stavreus-Evers
Anneli
A
Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical Science, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. anneli-stavreus-evers@klinvet.ki.se
Koraen
Linn
L
Scott
Jennifer E
JE
Zhang
Pu
P
Westlund
Pär
P
D000328:Adult; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology*; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000032:analysis*; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis*
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2