Cytokeratin 8, 18 and 19 in endometrial epithelium of Norplant(R) and norethisterone enanthate injectable progestogen contraceptive users

Abstract

Cytokeratins 8, 18 and 19 are members of the cytoskeletal intermediate filament family found in all simple epithelia. Intermediate filaments are dynamic intracytoplasmic structures that can be influenced by a number of external factors. Norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) is a long-acting progestogen contraceptive that has been found to arrest endometrial growth in the rat. Both Norplant and NET-EN cause bleeding problems among users which are responsible for > 50% of withdrawals with these methods. The aim of this study was to explore changes in the expression and distribution of cytokeratins 8, 18 and 19 in NET-EN- and Norplant-exposed endometrial epithelium which could be related to bleedin..