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Expression of gap junction connexins in the human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle.

Expression of connexins, the proteins which comprise gap junction channels, is regulated by ovarian hormones in the female reproductive tract of rodents. In order to determine if these hormones also affect connexin expression in the human uterus, the distribution patterns of different connexins (cx26, cx32, cx43) were investigated by immunohistochemistry in human endometrial tissue collected throughout the menstrual cycle. During the early proliferative phase of the cycle extremely low staining for connexin 43 was observed and connexin 26 antigens could not be detected. An increase in the amount of connexin 43 in stromal cells and of connexin 26 in glandular and luminal epithelial cells was seen from days 11-15 of the cycle. Following ovulation, the expression of both connexins was suppressed and was completely abolished in the late secretory phase. Weak staining for connexin 32 was found mainly in the late proliferative and the early secretory phase and was restricted to the basal membrane region of the glandular cells. These results suggest that the different connexins could represent cell biological markers for the proliferation and differentiation of the human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle.