Variation during the menstrual cycle of immune cell populations in human endometrium

Abstract

Morphometric analysis and immunohistology of tissue sections have been used to assess variation, during the normal menstrual cycle, of the bone marrow-derived cell populations in human endometrium. Levels of T cells and macrophages were found to be relatively constant throughout the cycle. In contrast, numbers of large granular lymphocytes, identified as being CD56-positive, were generally low between days 10 and 19, but increased sharply in the latter part of the luteal phase, decreasing again after menstruation. This LGL population is known to be abundant in first trimester pregnancy decidua, and is presumed to play a role in early pregnancy success.