MENSTRUAL CYCLE-ASSOCIATED REGULATION OF ANABOLIC AND CATABOLIC ENZYMES CAUSES LUTEAL PHASE-CHARACTERISTIC EXPRESSION OF SULFATIDE IN HUMANENDOMETRIUM

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the metabolic background of the expression of sulfoglycolipids in human endometrium during the lut eal phase. STUDY DESIGN: We investigated the expression of sulfoglycol ipids by thin-layer chromatography immunostaining and the activities o f galactosylceramide sulfotransferase and arylsulfatase A, which regul ate the synthesis and degradation of sulfoglycolipid. In addition, ary lsulfatase A messenger ribonucleic acid was studied by reverse transcr iptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Sulfoglycolipid expression showed a marked increase in the luteal phase but not in the follicular phase, whereas sialoglycolipids remained relatively constant. The inc rease of sulfoglycolipids was found to be due to 4.5-fold increased ac tivation of sulfotransferase and a concurrent reduction of arylsulfata se A activity in the luteal phase. Arylsulfatase A messenger ribonucle ic acid was detected in both phases and showed no significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that increased sulfoglycolipid ex pression in the luteal phase is due to the simultaneous regulation of sulfotransferase and arylsulfatase A, probably by sex steroid hormones .