Physiology: Immunohistochemical characterization of human endometrial microvascular basement membrane components during the normal menstrual cycle

Abstract

The expression of three basement membrane components [collagen IV (CIV), laminin and heparan sulphate proteoglycan (HSPG)] and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM) were examined by immunohistochemistry in cryostat sections of normal human endometrium. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was detected using enzyme histochemistry. Endometrial biopsies from the menstrual (n = 4), mid-late proliferative (n = 5), early-mid secretory (n = 5) and late secretory (n = 5) stages were collected from women with a normal menstrual cycle. At all four stages of the menstrual cycle, CIV, laminin and HSPG were expressed on basement membranes of both vessels and glands whilst PECAM expression was localiz..