The ovary is not a major source of placental protein 14 (glycodelin)

Placental protein 14 (PP14) is the major glycoprotein synthesized by late s ecretory endometrium and gestational decidua, The control mechanisms of PP1 4 production are uncertain but might include progesterone or an ovarian fac tor. It has been suggested that PP14 might be produced by the ovary itself. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if the ovary is a major sourc e of PP14, We measured PP14 and also insulin-like growth factor binding pro tein-1 (IGFBP-1), another protein produced in large amounts by the secretor y endometrium though not specific to that tissue. The samples included sera from the ovarian vein in one subject, sera of three women affected with Ro kitansky syndrome (absent uterus) and follicular fluid samples collected du ring oocyte recovery in 46 in-vitro fertilization patients. PP14 was undete ctable in the sample collected from the ovarian vein at the mid-luteal phas e and was absent or at very low concentrations in most of the follicular fl uid samples. Furthermore, the predominantly uterine origin was confirmed by the inability to detect any PP14 in sera throughout the menstrual cycle fr om patients with congenital absence of the uterus (Rokitansky syndrome). In conclusion this study shows that the ovary is not a major source of PP14.