Changes in activity of superoxide dismutase in the human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy.

To investigate the possible role of the superoxide radical and its scavenging system in the human endometrium, the immunohistochemical distribution of superoxide dismutase (SOD), activities of SOD and lipid peroxide concentrations were studied in the human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. The endometrial epithelium showed a positive immunostaining for Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD throughout the entire menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. In the stroma, weak immunostaining for Cu,Zn-SOD and moderate immunostaining for Mn-SOD were observed in the predecidual cells in the late secretory phase. Decidual cells in early pregnancy showed strong immunostaining for Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD. Total SOD activity in the endometrium increased from early proliferative phase to mid-late proliferative phase and further increased in the mid-secretory phase, and decreased in the late secretory phase. The total SOD activity in the endometrium of of early pregnancy was the same level as that in the mid-secretory phase. Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD activities changed in a similar manner to total SOD activity throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. Lipid peroxide concentration in the endometrium increased from early proliferative phase to mid-late proliferative phase and further increased in the late secretory phase. However, lipid peroxide concentration in the endometrium of early pregnancy was the same as that in the mid-secretory phase. These results suggested that the superoxide radical and its scavenging system may play an important role in the regulation of human endometrial function.