[A study on the proliferation of the uterine endometrium]

A proliferative activity study of the endometrium was evaluated in three different parts by means of an immunohistochemical approach and flow cytometry (FCM). The materials were 29 cases of hysterectomies due to uterine myoma. Twenty-one cases were in the proliferative phase, and 8 cases were in the secretory phase. The three parts of the endometrium obtained from the upper, middle and lower part of the uterine body were investigated by an immunohistochemical technique with Ki-67 and anti-DNA polymerase alpha antibody. Single staining with Propidium Iodide (PI) was used for cell cycle analysis in FCM.

(1) The rate of positive Ki-67 cells was 25.9 +/- 6.3% in the upper part, 26.0 +/- 3.3% in the middle part, and 25.5 +/- 5.8% in the lower part. And the rate of positive DNA polymerase alpha cell was 27.2 +/- 5.8% in the upper part, 24.0 +/- 2.9% in the middle part, and 24.8 +/- 4.0% in the lower part. The growth potential of each part was not significant. (2) FCM did not detect a significant difference among the three parts of the endometrium in cell cycle analysis. (3) Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the upper part was thicker than the lower part and the number of glands in the upper part was more abundant than in the lower part. This difference was significant (p less than 0.01). (4) Ki-67 was recognized even in the early secretory phase. (5) And each segment of the endometrium proliferated evenly, not focussed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)