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Background. The aim of this study was to clarify changes in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during decidualization by endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) in vitro. Methods. ESCs were separated by enzymic digestion and filtration, and were cultured with RPMI 1640 in 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) and treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (db-cAMP) to induce decidualization in vitro. The levels of prolactin (PRL) in the culture media were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and the levels of VEGF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of VEGF mRNA by ESCs and decidualized cells was analyzed by Northern blot analysis. Results. In treated cells, PRL production was significantly increased due to treatment with both db-cAMP (0.5 mmol/L) and MPA (100 nmol/L). VEGF mRNA expression was detected without any stimulation by ESCs. VEGF production was also significantly greater in cells treated with db-cAMP (0.5 mmol/L) and MPA (1 nmol/L or 100 nmol/L) than in control cells. VEGF mRNA was also increased in association with decidualization in vitro. Conclusions. VEGF production increased in association with decidualization in this in vitro study. Decidualization of ESCs may play a role in the induction of growth in the human fetus and/or placentation. The mechanism involved may include influencing the production of angiogenic growth factors such as VEGF.

PROBLEM In order to investigate the role of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in human ovulation, we measured the concentrations of M-CSF and MCP-1 in human follicular fluids (FFs) and correlated them with oocyte maturation. METHOD OF STUDY The oocytes were obtained from the FFs of 46 women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF ET). The concentrations of M-CSF and MCP-1 in the FFs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, granulosa cells obtained from the FFs of IVF patients were cultured and treated with forskolin and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) for 24 48 hr. RESULTS Concentrations of M-CSF and MCP-1 were significantly higher in the FFs than in the serum (P < 0.01). M-CSF concentrations tended to be higher, while MCP-1 concentrations were significantly higher in the FFs containing mature oocytes than in FFs containing immature oocytes (P < 0.05). The production of M-CSF was markedly increased over the basal level after treatment with forskolin (10 microM) for 24 (P < 0.02) and 48 hr (P < 0.01); however, the production of MCP-1 was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that M-CSF and MCP-1 may play an important role in human preovulatory processes and that M-CSF, in particular, may be regulated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate. M-CSF and MCP-1 may also be valuable biochemical markers in the evaluation of oocyte maturation.

RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), which is a potent chemoattractant for eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, was recently detected in the human endometrium. The effects of modulators of endometrial function, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), on the production of RANTES by endometrial stromal cells (ESC) were examined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Northern blot analysis. The concentration of RANTES in the culture media of non-stimulated ESC was below the level of detection. The concentration of RANTES was increased by the addition of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and LPS. IFN-gamma synergistically enhanced the TNF-alpha- and LPS-induced RANTES expression, but had no effect on the IL-1beta-induced RANTES expression. The TNF-alpha-induced production of RANTES by ESC was inhibited by IL-4. The transcription of RANTES in ESC was also stimulated by TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and LPS in a dose-dependent manner. It is suggested that the LPS and cytokines secreted by the maternal decidual tissue and the developing embryo may regulate the production of RANTES by ESC. The modulation of RANTES concentration in the local environment may contribute to the pathophysiological processes of human reproduction by regulating the immunological reaction at the fetal-maternal interface.

PROBLEM: The aim of this study was to clarify the physiological effects of interferon (IFN)-γ on secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by endometrial stromal (ES) cells. METHOD OF STUDY: ES cells were obtained from human uterine endometrium by enzymic digestion and filtration. The effects of IFN-γ on production of VEGF by ES cells were examined by analyzing VEGF mRNA expression with Northern blotting analysis and by assaying VEGF protein. RESULTS: IFN-γ inhibited VEGF mRNA and protein expression by ES cells in a dose-dependent manner. In ES cells treated with IFN-γ, VEGF production was not significant until 6 hr of incubation and was significantly affected after 6 hr of incubation, but decreased significantly after 1 to 48 hr. IFN-γ also suppressed VEGF mRNA expression by ES cells. CONCLUSIONS: ES cells produce VEGF, which may contribute to endometrial neovascularization and proliferation. IFN-γ may play an important role in regulating VEGF production by ES cells.

To clarify the role of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in reproduction, we have examined its effects on cytokine production by human endometrial stromal cells (ESC). Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in the culture media of normal ESC and an endometrial stromal sarcoma cell line, MaMi, were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both non-stimulated ESC and non-stimulated MaMi cells constitutively secrete IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and M-CSF. In a dose-dependent manner, IFN-gamma increased the concentrations of IL-6, MCP-1, and M-CSF and reduced the concentrations of IL-8 in ESC and MaMi cells. These results suggest that IFN-gamma produced by both decidual inflammatory cells and the developing embryo plays a role in the maintenance of early pregnancy by modulating the production of these cytokines by human ESC.

In order to investigate the role of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in human ovulation, we evaluated the concentrations of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) in human follicular fluid (FF). The concentrations of IGFBP-1 in the FFs of 15 women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer were measured and related to those of 17beta-estradiol (E2), progesterone and androstenedione in the FFs. IGFBP-1 levels in the FFs were positively correlated with those of E2 and progesterone. No correlation was found between the IGFBP-1 and androstenedione levels in FFs. The concentrations of IGFBP-1 were significantly increased in the FFs which contained mature oocytes compared with those of immature oocytes, whereas IGFBP-3 in FFs tended to decrease as oocytes matured. It is suggested that IGFs may play important roles in human preovulatory processes, and that IGFBP-1 may be a valuable biochemical marker in the evaluation of oocytes.

Objective: To study the expression of c-erb B-2 in gynecologic malignancies, especially in malignant mixed mullerian tumors (MMTs). Methods: Using immunohistochemical techniques, we examined 6 cases of primary MMT, 6 cases of leiomyosarcoma (LMS), 7 cases of endometrial adenocarcinomas, and 10 cases of normal endometria. Results: The expression of c-erb B-2 was observed in the carcinomatous area of all 6 cases of MMT (100%), the sarcomatous area of 5 of 6 cases of MMT (83.3%), in 1 of the 6 cases of LMS (16.7%), in all 7 cases of adenocarcinoma (100%), and in all cases of normal epithelial cells (100%), but was not observed in any of the cases of normal stromal cells (0%). Conclusion: The results suggest that the carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements of MMT are similar in their expression of c-erb B-2. MMT differed immunohistochemically from pure sarcoma cells and normal stromal cells, but resembled pure carcinoma cells and normal epithelial cells of the female genital tract.

Using immunohistochemical techniques, we studied the expression of c-erb B-2 in normal human endometrial tissue (n = 8), endometriosis interna (adenomyosis) (n = 8) and endometriosis externa (endometriotic cyst of the ovary) (n = 6). The glandular epithelium of normal endometrial tissue specimens in the proliferative phase stained positively. Most of the cases of endometriosis studied showed no expression of c-erb B-2 in glandular epithelium. No expression was detected in either the normal or endometriotic stromal cells. Results suggest that c-erb B-2 is not significantly involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

A patient with untreated Wilson's disease showed the possibility of fetal liver damage and copper accumulation in the placenta by this disease. This is the first report of copper disposition on the fetus and placenta in a patient with untreated Wilson's disease.

Although preimplantation embryo and decidual cells secrete significant amounts of platelet-activating factor (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, PAF); its precise function in early pregnancy has yet to be established. To investigate the effect of PAF on cytokine synthesis, we measured the cytokine concentration in the culture media of two human cell lines: normal endometrial stromal cells (ESC) and endometrial stromal sarcoma cells (MaMi), following stimulation with a non-metabolized PAF analogue, carbamyl-PAF (C-PAF). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure five cytokines: interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). We also evaluated the mRNA expression for IL-6 and IL-8 in ESC after C-PAF stimulation using Northern blot analysis. Non-stimulated ESC and MaMi cells both secreted IL-6, IL-8, and M-CSF, but not MIP-1alpha or TNF-alpha. The concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, M-CSF, MIP-1alpha, and TNF-alpha in the culture media of both cell lines increased in parallel with increasing amounts of C-PAF. C-PAF stimulated IL-6 and IL-8 transcription in ESC. These results suggest that PAF secretion by decidual tissues and developing embryos may induce cytokine synthesis by the ESC, as part of the cytokine network in the feto-maternal unit. An increase in the local cytokine concentration may be an important factor in the maintenance of early stages of gestation.

A case of mucin-producing adenocarcinoma arising from a mature cystic teratoma of the right ovary is reported in a 67-year-old multiparous Japanese woman. The patient underwent total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and adjuvant chemotherapy containing cisplatin, Adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide with the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, probable stage Ic. Treatment was successful even though the tumor extended through the cyst wall.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the epithelium of an endometriotic lesion has eutopic endometrial glandular epithelium morphology or not for the histogenesis of endometriosis. METHOD: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the endometrium was done for 25 cases. Histologically proven endometriotic lesions of 10 of these 25 cases were processed for SEM. Peroneum samples of another 15 cases without histological endometriosis were also studied. RESULT: Three of 10 cases with histologically proven endometriotic lesions revealed endometrium-like morphology by SEM, whereas normal appearing peritoneum without histological endometriosis in 15 cases showed no endometriumlike structures by SEM. CONCLUSION: Although abovementioned results did not support retrograde menstruation and implantation, they suggested a possibility of derivation from the endometrium.