title: Serum glycodelin pattern during the menstrual cycle in healthy young women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Glycodelin (PP14) is produced by the epithelium of the endometrium and its determination in the serum is used for functional evaluation of this tissue. Given the complex regulation and the combined contraceptive and immunosuppressive roles of glycodelin, the current lack of normal values for its serum concentration in the physiological menstrual cycle, derived from a large sample number, is a problem. We have therefore established reference values from over 600 sera.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study using banked serum samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurement of blood samples daily or every second day during one full cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum concentrations of glycodelin and normal values for every such one- or two-day interval were calculated. Late luteal phase glycodelin levels were compared with ovarian hormones. Follicular phase levels were compared with stimulated cycles from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glycodelin concentrations were low around ovulation. Highest levels were observed at the end of the luteal phase; the glycodelin serum peak was reached 6-8 days after the one for progesterone. Late luteal glycodelin levels correlated negatively with the body mass index and positively with the progesterone level earlier in the secretory (mid-luteal) phase in the same woman. No associations with other ovarian hormones were observed. Follicular phase glycodelin levels were higher in the spontaneous than in the in vitro fertilization cycles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Normal values taken at two- or one-day intervals demonstrate the very late appearance of high serum glycodelin levels during the physiological menstrual cycle and their correlation with progesterone occurring earlier in the cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland. nick.bersinger@dkf.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Nick A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Bersinger
authors.forename: Martin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Birkhäuser
authors.forename: Mengistu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yared
authors.forename: Dorothea M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Wunder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D020738:Leptin; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C422362:inhibin A; C422364:inhibin B; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein