Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Perforin expression in endometrium during the menstrual cycle

A Hameed1, W M Fox, R J Kurman

  • 1Department of Pathology, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.

International Journal of Gynecological Pathology : Official Journal of the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists
|April 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Perforin-positive cytotoxic lymphocytes increase during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. These cells, including natural killer (NK) and T cells, are recruited during decidualization and may play a role in menstruation.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The impact of right ventricular free wall strain on current international echocardiography guidelines for the assessment of pulmonary hypertension.

Echo research and practice·2026
Same author

The diagnosis and subclassification of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a review.

Heart failure reviews·2026
Same author

Hypersonic turbulent quantities in support of Morkovin's hypothesis.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Preparation and evaluation of cytotoxic potential of paclitaxel containing poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalarate (PTX/PHBV) nanoparticles.

Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia·2023
Same author

First Report of <i>Alternaria alternata</i> Causing Fruit Rot on Fig (<i>Ficus carica</i>) in Pakistan.

Plant disease·2021
Same author

Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic performance of W<sup>6+</sup> impregnated g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> for the removal of chlorophenol derivatives in natural sunlight exposure.

Chemosphere·2020

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Reproductive Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Perforin is a key marker for cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells, indicating their functional activity.
  • Endometrial immune cell dynamics are crucial for reproductive health, yet their specific roles throughout the menstrual cycle require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and distribution of perforin in the human endometrium across different phases of the menstrual cycle.
  • To analyze perforin expression in endometrial leukocytes in conditions such as anovulatory cycles and postmenopausal states.
  • To explore the potential role of perforin-expressing lymphocytes in endometrial breakdown during menstruation.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemical analysis of perforin expression in endometrial tissue samples.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Flow cytometry to characterize perforin-positive endometrial lymphocytes (CD3, CD56, CD8, T-cell receptor gamma delta).
  • Northern blot analysis to confirm perforin gene expression.
  • In vitro cytotoxicity assays using isolated endometrial lymphocytes.

    • Main Results:

    • Perforin-positive endometrial lymphocytes significantly increased in number during the mid-to-late secretory phases of the menstrual cycle.
    • Women with anovulatory cycles showed fewer perforin-positive lymphocytes in proliferative endometrium compared to premenstrual endometrium.
    • Progestin-induced decidualization led to a substantial increase in perforin-positive cells.
    • Postmenopausal atrophic endometrium completely lacked perforin-positive cells.
    • Isolated lymphocytes were primarily CD3-, CD56+ NK cells (~80%) or CD3+, CD8+ T cells (~20%), with high perforin content in both populations.
    • Endometrial lymphocytes demonstrated NK-like cytotoxicity in vitro.

    Conclusions:

    • Perforin-expressing cytotoxic lymphocytes, including NK and T cells, are dynamically regulated in the endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle.
    • Hormonal influences, particularly progestins, modulate the recruitment and presence of these cytotoxic cells.
    • The significant increase in perforin-positive cells during the secretory phase and their potential role in endometrial breakdown suggest their involvement in menstruation.