title: Nitric Oxide concentration in endometrial washing throughout the menstrual cycle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nitric oxide (NO) intrauterine production has been shown to have an important role in the reproductive system in females. The objective of the present study was to evaluate NO concentration in endometrial washing throughout the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study at Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mother-Infant Department, University Hospital. The study included 40 healthy fertile women, aged 21-40, with regular menstrual cycle, undergoing endometrial washing by hydrosonography for the assessment of NO concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nitric oxide concentration in endometrial washing were low in early to mid proliferative phase (4.73 ± 1.57 mcM/L), but significantly higher (p < 0.05) in late proliferative phase (7.30 ± 3.37 mcM/L) early secretory phase (8.05 ± 1.97 mcM/L) and late secretory phase (8.69 ± 4.12 mcM/L) of menstrual cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endometrial washing by hydrosonography is a simple, minimally invasive, and effective tool to use in the evaluation of cyclical NO intrauterine production. Nitric oxide concentrations increased during the late proliferative and secretory phase of menstrual cycle.
authors.affiliation: Mother-Infant Department, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Policlinico, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Del Pozzo 71, 41100 Modena, Italy. sgiulini@unimore.it
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giulini
authors.forename: Maria Maddalena
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Marca
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tirelli
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Radi
authors.forename: Annibale
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volpe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide