Endometrial prostaglandins in women with abnormal menstrual bleeding

Abstract

Endogenous prostaglandin (PG) concentrations (6oxo PGF 1α, PGE, PGF 2α) have been measured by radioimmunoassay in the endaeetrium of women with objectively assessed menstrual blood loss (MBL). The concentration of PGE and “total” PG (6oxo PGF 1α+PGE+PGF 2a) was greater in the endometrium of those women with heavy menses (median MBL 152ml (range 86,432) n=16) than in those individuals with a normal menstrual loss (MBL 59m1 (18,78) n=18). The concentrations of PGE and PGF 2α were similar in each group, but the concentration of 6oxo PGF 1α was significantly less than that of both PGE and- PGF 2α. In 19 individuals, specimens of endometrium were incubated or I and 2 hours in modified 199 medium to assess PG release. There was a direct correlation between endogenous PG content and the production of 6oxo PGF 1α, PGE, PGF 2α and “total” PG in the first tour, which persisted for the second hour with PGF 2α and “total” PG. Endometrial PGs may play a role in the mechanism underlying menstruation; however the observed relationship between the prostanoids and MBL will vary with different experimental methods.