EFFECTS OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE ON THE METABOLISM OF HUMAN ENDOMETRIUM1

Abstract

Human endometrium, incubated in vitro shows cyclic variations with the menstrual cycle in O2 consumption, glycogen utilization, lactate production, amt. of pyruvate oxidized and fraction of respiratory CO2 derived from glucose. Detns. of total solids content and glycogen content of human endometrium show that these also vary with the menstrual cycle. The metabolic changes can be correlated with variations in the amt. of estrogen available to the tissue in vivo prior to the expt. The in vivo effects of estrogen deduced from these variations are in the same direction and of the same magnitude as those induced by estradiol added to endometrium incubated in vitro. It would appear, therefore, that the mechanism of action of the hormone is identical in both these exptl. situations.