Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (10)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Milne, S.A.
Right arrow Articles by Critchley, H.O.D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Milne, S.A.
Right arrow Articles by Critchley, H.O.D.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 7, No. 6, 559-565, June 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Uterine physiology

Co-localization of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and mast cell tryptase in the human uterus

S.A. Milne1,, A. Rakhyoot, T.A. Drudy, S. Brechin, S.C. Riley and H.O.D. Critchley

Obstetrics and Gynaecology Section, Department of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Centre for Reproductive Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Abstract

The endometrium displays characteristic cyclical changes involving proliferation and differentiation. The differentiation that takes place requires major tissue remodelling involving the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family as key enzymes in this process. Mast cells, containing the tryptase and chymase enzymes that are capable of stimulating the MMP cascade, have been identified in the endometrium, but their role is still unclear. In this study, we observed that the majority of mast cells in the uterus reside in the myometrium and that they co-express mast cell tryptase and MMP-1 in the same intracellular granules. In endometrium exposed to synthetic progestogen via an intrauterine levonorgestrel system a significant increase in mast cells numbers was observed in women experiencing breakthrough bleeding compared to those in women with no reported bleeding. We conclude that mast cells contain MMP-1 and we postulate a potential role for mast cells in breakthrough bleeding.

endometrium/levonorgestrel-IUS mast cells/matrix metalloproteinase/myometrium/uterus

Notes

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: MRC Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, Centre for Reproductive Biology, 37 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9ET, UK. E-mail: Stuart.Milne{at}hrsu.mrc.ac.uk


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Endocr. Rev.Home page
H. N. Jabbour, R. W. Kelly, H. M. Fraser, and H. O. D. Critchley
Endocrine Regulation of Menstruation
Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2006; 27(1): 17 - 46.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Endocr. Rev.Home page
T. E. Curry Jr. and K. G. Osteen
The Matrix Metalloproteinase System: Changes, Regulation, and Impact throughout the Ovarian and Uterine Reproductive Cycle
Endocr. Rev., August 1, 2003; 24(4): 428 - 465.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
J. Zhang and L. A. Salamonsen
In Vivo Evidence for Active Matrix Metalloproteinases in Human Endometrium Supports their Role in Tissue Breakdown at Menstruation
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2002; 87(5): 2346 - 2351.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
A.J. Vincent, J. Zhang, A. Ostor, P.A.W. Rogers, B. Affandi, G. Kovacs, and L.A. Salamonsen
Decreased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase in the endometrium of women using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate: a role for altered endometrial matrix metalloproteinase/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase balance in the pathogenesis of abnormal uterine bleeding?
Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2002; 17(5): 1189 - 1198.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.