THE EFFECT OF LEVONORGESTREL-RELEASING INTRAUTERINE-DEVICES (20 MU-G DAY) (LNG-IUD-20) ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF HUMAN ENDOMETRIUM - A STUDY OF THE ENDOMETRIAL FACTOR-VIII ACTIVITY IN THE WOMEN BEFORE AND AFTER INSERTION OF LNG-IUD-20 BY THE DIGITAL IMAGE-ANALYSIS/

The specimens of endometria were obtained from 18 women using an intra uterine device releasing levonorgestrel at 20 mu g/day (LNG-IUD-20). A n immunoperoxidase reaction, PAP method, with the antiserum of Factor VIII as the primary antibody, was carried out in the endometrial biops ies to detect the Factor VIII activity in the endometrial endothelium before and after insertion of LNG-IUD-20. The immunoperoxidase activit y was quantitatively assessed by a computer digital image analyser. Th e results revealed that there was a lower Factor VIII activity in the endometrial endothelial cells after insertion of LNG-IUD-20 (p< 0.001) when compared with the control. From the results of the present study , it is suggested that the synthesis and release of endometrial endoth elial Factor VIII might be inhibited by the insertion of LNG-IUD20.