Increased type III and V collagen expression in human corpora lutea in early pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possible involvement of collagen in the characteristic structure and function of human corpora lutea (CL), type V collagen expression was determined in the CL tissues during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy.


METHODS
In vitro experiment.


METHODS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.


METHODS
Regulatory cycling women and pregnant women with ovarian tumor and ectopic pregnancy who underwent adnexectomy.


METHODS
Composition of the various types of collagen in human CL was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.


METHODS
Expression of type V collagen.


RESULTS
The ratios of type III to type I collagen and the ratios of type V to type I collagen in the CL tissues were significantly increased in early pregnancy compared with those in the menstrual cycle.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that alterations in composition of collagen might play an important role in determining the physiology and structure of the CL during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy.
Iwahashi
Masaaki
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan. masaaki@wakayama-med.ac.jp <masaaki@wakayama-med.ac.jp>
Muragaki
Yasuteru
Y
Ooshima
Akira
A
Umesaki
Naohiko
N
D000328:Adult; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism*; D024062:Collagen Type V / Q000378:metabolism*; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000378:metabolism*
D024061:Collagen Type III; D024062:Collagen Type V