title: Differential expression of L-selectin ligand in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the expression of L-selectin ligand in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endometrial samples from regularly cycling women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue microarray and immunohistochemical staining were performed using L-selectin ligand monoclonal antibody (MECA-79).
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of L-selectin ligand in the various phases of menstrual cycle was measured by a semiquantitative analysis (HSCORE) for the intensity of immunohistochemical reactivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the luminal epithelium, there were significant differences in L-selectin ligand expression during the proliferative, interval, early secretory, and midsecretory phases. The expression of L-selectin ligand was greatest from the periovulatory interval through midsecretory phase. In the glandular epithelium, the expression of L-selectin ligand was greatest in midsecretory phase with significant differences between proliferative phase and the midsecretory phase and between the interval phase and the midsecretory phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased expression of L-selectin ligand in the human endometrium during the early and midsecretory phases of the menstrual cycle may be related to the process of implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Tsung-Hsuan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Ie-Ming
authors.initials: IeM
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vlahos
authors.forename: Chung-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wallach
authors.forename: Yulian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004717:Endometrium / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D019041:L-Selectin