Apoptosis in endometrium of mouse during estrous cycle.

The present study was carried out to evaluate apoptosis in endometrium and to correlate these changes with the circulating levels of estradiol and progesterone in the mouse. Apoptosis was observed in various compartments of mouse uterus i.e. stroma, glandular epithelium and luminal epithelium depending on the stage of cycle. Stromal cell apoptosis was observed during various stages of cyclicity except on estrus day. Luminal epithelial cells showed apoptotic changes during all stages of cyclicity except on diestrus day. During metestrus, apoptosis was observed in glandular and luminal epithelia as well as stromal cells. Steroid antagonists such as tamoxifen and onapristone altered the apoptotic changes in the uterus. The results suggest that epithelial cell apoptosis is regulated by estrogen while stromal cell apoptosis is under the control of progesterone.