EXPRESSION OF ACIDIC GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS AND ARYLSULFATASE-A ACTIVITY IN HUMAN PATHOLOGICAL ENDOMETRIUM

Endometrium biopsic samples from women with cystic hyperplasia or aden ocarcinoma were analysed by biochemical procedures to verify fluctuati ons in the acidic glycosphingolipid (sulphatide) concentration and ary lsulphatase A (ASA) activity. Comparing the values of the considered p arameters with those obtained in normal subjects, it was observed that ASA activity significantly increased in both pathologies; in contrast , sulphatide concentration underwent a non-significant decrease in hyp erplasia and a statistically significant increase in neoplasia. The th in-layer chromatography (TLC) images revealed not only quantitative, b ut also qualitative differences in the lipid fractions. In fact, compa red with controls, the sulphatides showed one more marked fraction in the neoplastic endometrium, and two fractions with different Rp values in the hyperplastic one. Moreover, two new unknown fractions also app eared in some subjects with cystic hyperplasia. The findings suggest t he lipid metabolism undergoes considerable changes under the pathologi cal conditions examined. The fluctuations observed, in particular, in the sulphatide concentration are believed to be related to changes in the biosynthetic and catabolic activities of the key enzymes directly involved in their metabolism, i.e. arylsulphatase A and sulphotransfer ase, which are regulated by sex hormones.