A comparative study of nucleic acid content and electrophoretic analysis of human decidual and endometrial proteins

DNA, RNA and protein content expressed in terms of tissue wet weight was significantly reduced in decidua compared to endometrium. A protein with an approximate molecular weight of 36 000 was detected in higher incidence in decidua compared to normal endometrium. Another protein with a molecular weight of 26 000 was detected predominantly in decidua and secretory endometrium. Semiquantitative changes were also observed in the decidua. The peak area of one protein with a molecular weight of 48 000, which was significantly elevated in the secretory compared to the proliferative phase of the cycle, was significantly reduced in early pregnancy decidua. However, in term decidua the peak area of this protein was similar to those in endometrial tissue obtained in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The results demonstrated that the transformation of endometrial stromal cells to decidua involves changes in nucleic acid and protein profiles and is accompanied by enhanced synthesis of at least one protein.