Subcellular distribution of trace metals in the normal and in the copper treated human secretory endometrium

Abstract

The subcellular distribution of some metals has been studied in the normal human secretory endometrium and in the secretory endometrium of women wearing a copper-T intrauterine device. The sustained release of copper inside the uterine cavity induces some significant changes in the metal composition of this tissue; Mg, Ca and Cu increase while Zn decreases. Neither Na nor K concentrations show any significant change. Under these conditions, endometrial nuclei concentrations seem to be able to passively come to equilibrium with the tissue concentrations of the elements studied, showing only a significant retention of Ca. On the contrary, mitochondria show differential concentrations of all metals. Ca is retained, but all the other elements remain at low levels. Copper is significantly increased in all fractions, but the relative increase is particularly noticeable in the microsomes (6 x). Zinc tends to decrease in all fractions but reaches statistical significance only in the microsomes and the supernatant. These results are analyzed in relation to the mechanism of action of the Cu-T.