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Epithelial Peroxidase and Endometrial Granulocytes in the Normal Cyclic Human Endometrium^*

MICHAEL F. PRESS, EUGENE R. DESOMBRE and ALEKSANDER TALERMAN

Department of Pathology (M.F.P., A.T.), Ben May Laboratory for Cancer Research (E.R.D.), and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A. T.), The University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics Chicago, Illinois 60637

Address requests for reprints to: Michael F. Press, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, 950 East 59th Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Studies in animal models have clearly shown a relationship between the administration of estrogens and the appearance of peroxidase activity in growth-responsive estrogen target tissues (endometrium, cervix, vagina, breast, and DMBA rat mammary tumor). We have studied the ultrastructural localization of endogenous peroxidase activity in the normal cyclic human endometrium. Endogenous peroxidase activity was not identified in proliferative phase endometria, with the exception of one very late proliferative phase endometrium. Most secretory phase endometria showed at least some ultrastructurally identified peroxidase activity in glandular epithelial cells. The number of epithelial cells showing peroxidase activity varied from less than 10% to 85%. The peroxidase activity was present throughout the endoplasmic reticulum of these epithelial cells, extending from the perinuclear cistern to the most peripheral portions of the endoplasmic reticulum adjacent to the apical lumen. Biochemical assays of peroxidase activity in these en-dometria were compared with the ultrastructurally identified epithelial peroxidase and the endometrial granulocyte count. Uterine granulocyte peroxidase appeared to make a substantial contribution to the total peroxidase activity assayed by biochemical methods. Standard biochemical techniques alone, therefore were not considered to be adequate to evaluate epithelial perox-idase activity.

^* This work was supported by grants from the American Cancer Society, Illinois Division (no. 81–44 and 83–2, including a specific bequest from the estate of Clara Davis), the Sprague Memorial Fund, and the NCI (NCI/CA-14599 and P01-CA-27476). This material was presented in part at the VIII European Congress of Pathology, Helsinki, Finland, August 30 to September 4, 1981.

Junior Faculty Clinical Fellow of the American Cancer Society (JFCF no. 678).

Received October 18, 1982.