Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Generation of Multicellular Human Primary Endometrial Organoids
Published on: October 4, 2019
Effects of different progestins on prostaglandin biosynthesis in human endometrial explants
Katrin Roth1, Hans Peter Zahradnik1, Wolfgang R Schäfer1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Objective:
To compare the effects of chlormadinone acetate (CMA), dienogest (DNG) and drospirenone (DRSP) on prostaglandin biosynthesis in a human endometrial explants model.
Study Design:
Human endometrial explants obtained by aspiration curettage and human endometrial YHES cells were stimulated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and exposed to CMA, DNG, DRSP or dexamethasone (DEX; YHES cells). Cellular messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were analyzed by reverse-transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Concentrations of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) in culture supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
CMA exerted after IL-1β stimulation a stronger down-regulation of COX-2 mRNA compared to DNG and DRSP in human explants (-55% vs. -40% and 46%, respectively). The effect of CMA on COX-2 mRNA was significantly stronger (p=.025) than that of DNG. Moreover, the effect of CMA was independent from cycle phase or presence of endometriosis. In order to evaluate the impact of the investigated progestins on effector molecules, PGF2α release was determined in supernatants. Again, CMA reduced the PGF2α release significantly by an average of -60% (p<.01). In contrast, no significant reduction was found for DNG and DRSP. In YHES cells, only DEX but not the progestins under study exerted a significant down-regulating effect (-79%, p<.01) on COX-2 mRNA after IL-1β stimulation.
Conclusion:
Among the tested progestins, CMA displayed the most consistent suppression of prostaglandin biosynthesis in human endometrial explants.
Implication:
Among three tested progestins, chlormadinone acetate had the most consistent suppressive effect on prostaglandins in endometrial explants. These findings support clinical observations about the efficacy of chlormadinone acetate in dysmenorrhea treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Biosynthesis in Bacteria
Biosynthesis of Polysaccharides
Biosynthesis of Lipids
Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids
Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation
Damage or functional impairment of β-cells inhibits insulin production, leading to diabetes. Diabetes treatment...
Buffer Effectiveness
The buffer capacity is the amount of acid or base that can be added to a given volume...

