SYNTHESIS OF 12-HYDROXYEICOSATETRAENOIC ACID BY HUMAN ENDOMETRIUM ANDDECIDUA

In order to clarify the possible involvement of lipoxygenase metabolit es of arachidonic acid (AA) in implantation, monohydroxylic acid produ ction was examined using human endometrium and decidua in early pregna ncy. As 14C-AA was mainly converted to 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) as well as prostaglandins (PGs) by the microsomal fraction of the endometrium, a subsequent study was carried out on the endometr ium (at various stages) and decidua in early pregnancy using tissue in cubation and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis fo r 12-HETE. The amounts of 12-HETE released into the culture medium by proliferative and secretory endometrium were 165.1 +/- 123.4 (ng/mg. p rotein/24 h, mean +/- SD) and 502.3 +/- 127.2, respectively, whereas, decidua produced a smaller amount of 12-HETE that declined as gestatio n progressed. This lipoxygenase product as well as PGs might have a ro le in implantation.