Levels of prostaglandins in human endometrium during the normal menstrual cycle

JENIFER M. DOWNIE, N.L. Poyser, M Wunderlich
In: The Journal of Physiology · 1974 · vol. 236(2) , pp. 465–472 · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1974.sp010446 · PMID:16992446 · W2164479259
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

Prostaglandin F(2alpha) and E(2) levels are low in the proliferative phase, with F(2alpha) rising significantly in the luteal phase and E(2) peaking at menstruation.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-09 · read from full text ⓘ

This study measured prostaglandin levels in human endometrial tissue extracts across the normal menstrual cycle using bioassay, and used combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to establish the identities of prostaglandin F2α and prostaglandin E2. Prostaglandin F2α was low in the proliferative phase (10–25 ng/100 mg tissue) but rose significantly during the luteal phase to about 65–75 ng/100 mg, while prostaglandin E2 stayed similar to proliferative-phase levels but remained lower during the luteal phase and peaked at menstruation (52 ng/100 mg). The authors discuss implications in relation to menstrual processes and steroid hormone changes during the cycle, with the major caveat that quantification is based on tissue extract measurements rather than direct functional readouts in vivo. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it provides foundational evidence on cyclic prostaglandin changes in endometrium relevant to pelvic pain and menstrual physiology, which are often discussed in the context of endometriosis-related dysmenorrhea.

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Abstract

The levels of prostaglandins in the human endometrium throughout the normal menstrual cycle were measured by bioassay. The identity of prostaglandin F(2alpha) and prostaglandin E(2) in endometrial tissue extracts was established by combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.The levels of prostaglandin F(2alpha) and prostaglandin E(2) are low during the proliferative phase of the cycle (10-25 ng/100 mg tissue). Prostaglandin F(2alpha) rises significantly during the luteal phase to levels of 65-75 ng/100 mg of tissue. Prostaglandin E(2) levels are similar to prostaglandin F(2alpha) levels in the proliferative phase but remain lower during the luteal phase. The prostaglandin E(2) level is highest at menstruation (52 ng/100 mg tissue). The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the menstrual process and to the steroid hormonal changes during the cycle.
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Abstract The levels of prostaglandins in the human endometrium throughout the normal menstrual cycle were measured by bioassay. The identity of prostaglandin F2α and prostaglandin E2 in endometrial tissue extracts was established by combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The levels of prostaglandin F2α and prostaglandin E2 are low during the proliferative phase of the cycle (10-25 ng/100 mg tissue). Prostaglandin F2α rises significantly during the luteal phase to levels of 65-75 ng/100 mg of tissue. Prostaglandin E2 levels are similar to prostaglandin F2α levels in the proliferative phase but remain lower during the luteal phase. The prostaglandin E2 level is highest at menstruation (52 ng/100 mg tissue). The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the menstrual process and to the steroid hormonal changes during the cycle. Full text PDFSelected References These references are in PubMed. 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