The physiological regulation of fertile reproductive cycle in mammals depen
ds on interactions between hypothalamus-pituitary, ovarian and uterine stim
uli. Over the past 20 years, much has been learned about the interrelation
between the affluent and effluent lymph and vascular drainage in and around
both ovarian and uterine tissues. An essential feature in the regulation o
f the fertile cycle is the functional status of the ovary, particularly the
corpus luteum, During the time of implantation and the early pregnancy, an
active corpus luteum is essential. As human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)
is important in the maintenance of the corpus luteum, we investigated if it
was produced by the cyclic endometrium. Immunohistochemical and in-situ hy
bridization reactions were performed but neither identified the presence of
HCG during the proliferative phase, Positive staining and beta-human chori
onic gonadotrophin (beta-HCG) mRNA were observed during the secretory phase
in the glandular cells of the endometrium, The results were confirmed by W
estern blotting of secretory phase endometrium extracts and assessment of t
he functional secretory capacity of primary endometrial cultures. Polymeras
e chain reaction (PCR) investigations showed a positive result in the secre
tory phase. We postulate that, based on the very close morphological interr
elation between the uterus and the ovary, the beta-HCG of the endometrium i
s the primary factor for the maintenance of the corpus luteum and early pre
gnancy.