Peritoneal fluid concentrations of progesterone in women are higher close to the corpus luteum compared with elsewhere in the abdominal cavity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential role of peritoneal fluid activity for the local delivery of gonadal steroid hormones.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Nine women undergoing tubal sterilization during laparoscopic surgery.


METHODS
Peritoneal fluid was collected during laparoscopic surgery by means of sterile cotton swabs on the surface of the peritoneum facing the ovary with an active corpus luteum and on the contralateral side, at the right and left paracolic gutter, and at the pouch of Douglas; simultaneous systemic blood sampling was performed.


METHODS
P was quantified by competitive immunochemical assay. Final steroid concentrations were calculated relative to the standard recovery rate.


RESULTS
P concentrations in the peritoneum close to the corpus luteum were 4 times (range, 1.4-9.2) higher than in the other peritoneal samples and about 5 times (range, 3.9-9.5) higher than in the systemic blood.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that P enters the peritoneal cavity locally and may therefore influence the function of other nearby tissues, especially those of the ipsilateral fallopian tube and proximal region of the uterus. Indeed, the peritoneal cavity and its fluid contents may be a powerful yet overlooked component of the regulatory systems within the body.
Cicinelli
Ettore
E
4th Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department DIGON, University of Bari, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare, Bari, Italy. Cicinelli@gynecology1.uniba.it
Einer-Jensen
Niels
N
Hunter
Ronald H F
RH
Cignarelli
Mauro
M
Cignarelli
Angelo
A
Colafiglio
Giuseppe
G
Tinelli
Raffaele
R
Pinto
Vincenzo
V
D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010535:Laparoscopy; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies
D011374:Progesterone