title: Cycle dependent expression of endometrial metallothionein.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Molecular changes observed in endometrium with respect to menstrual cycle changes seem to be crucial for the reproductive function. Accumulation of cytotoxic cells increases the exposure of endometrial cells to apoptosis. Protection against apoptosis may be reached by endometrial cells by self molecular regulation. Metallothionein was suggested to participate in this process. The aim of our study was to evaluate endometrial MT immunoreactivity with respect to the menstrual cycle phases.
  
  
  METHODS
  MT expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry method in 47 endometrial tissue samples derived from randomly selected patients with respect to the menstrual cycle phases--proliferative and secretory with distinguishing early, mid and late subphases in each.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MT expression changes were observed respectively to hormonal fluctuations with the highest level during mid secretory phase and its respective decrease during the early, late secretory and mid proliferative menstrual cycle phases. The lowest MT immunoreactivity level was disclosed during early proliferative phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant differences in MT expression observed in endometrium with respect to menstrual cycle changes might suggest MT participation in endometrial cells protection against apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Infertility, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klimek
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wicherek
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Galazka
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tetlak
authors.forename: Tadeusz J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Popiela
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kulczycka
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rudnicka-Sosin
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dutsch-Wicherek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D008668:Metallothionein