To investigate the possible role of the superoxide radical and its scavenging system in the human endometrium, the immunohistochemical distribution of superoxide dismutase (SOD), activities of SOD and lipid peroxide concentrations were studied in the human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. The endometrial epithelium showed a positive immunostaining for Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD throughout the entire menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. In the stroma, weak immunostaining for Cu,Zn-SOD and moderate immunostaining for Mn-SOD were observed in the predecidual cells in the late secretory phase. Decidual cells in early pregnancy showed strong immunostaining for Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD. Total SOD activity in the endometrium increased from early proliferative phase to mid-late proliferative phase and further increased in the mid-secretory phase, and decreased in the late secretory phase. The total SOD activity in the endometrium of of early pregnancy was the same level as that in the mid-secretory phase. Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD activities changed in a similar manner to total SOD activity throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. Lipid peroxide concentration in the endometrium increased from early proliferative phase to mid-late proliferative phase and further increased in the late secretory phase. However, lipid peroxide concentration in the endometrium of early pregnancy was the same as that in the mid-secretory phase. These results suggested that the superoxide radical and its scavenging system may play an important role in the regulation of human endometrial function.

Beginning on Day 8 of pregnancy (Day 1 = sperm in vaginal smear), rats were injected i.p. with [3H] thymidine (TDR), killed 3 h later, and corpora lutea (CL) were dissected and saved for determining radioactivity in the acid-insoluble fraction or for autoradiography to determine labeling index (LI) of luteal and endothelial cells. An approximate doubling in DNA content in CL occurred between Days 13 and 14, with a high level maintained through Day 23. This was reflected in an abrupt increase in [3H] TDR incorporation on Day 13, with the peak reached on Day 14 and a subsequent decline to baseline values on Day 18. Autoradiography revealed that the LI of luteal endothelial cells rose from 2.1% on Day 12 to 10.0% on Day 14, and the LI of luteal cells correspondingly increased from 0.3% to 2.3%. Hypophysectomy (H) on Day 12 resulted, by Day 14, in no change in serum progesterone (P4) and TDR incorporation and LI of endothelial cells. However, after H and hysterectomy (HS) on Day 12, by Day 14, animals had low values for LI of endothelial and luteal cells, [3H] TDR incorporation and serum P4. After H + HS at Day 12, animals injected daily with estradiol cyclopentylpropionate (200 micrograms/day) on Days 12-14 had serum P4, [3H] TDR incorporation and LI of endothelial cells comparable to intact controls but not to luteal cells. However, similar treatment with testosterone cypionate (200 micrograms/day) or P4 (10 mg/day) did not maintain [3H] TDR incorporation or LI of either cell type, although serum P4 and estradiol levels were restored to normal values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Purpose: To investigate the impact of adenomyosis on the complications and outcomes of pregnancy in Japan. Methods:We carried out a multicenter retrospective questionnaire survey. A questionnaire regarding pregnancy complications and the outcomes of pregnancy was sent to 725 facilities.Results: Data were obtained on the cases of 272 pregnant women with adenomyosis from 65 facilities. The complications of pregnancy included miscarriage before 12 weeks of pregnancy (14.8%), miscarriage after 12 weeks of pregnancy (9.9%), preterm delivery (24.4%), fetal growth restriction (11.8%), pregnancy-induced hypertension (9.9%), intrauterine infection (7.3%), and cervical incompetency (5.3%). The rates of pregnancy complications in the three groups classified according to pretreatment for adenomyosis (no pretreatment, medication, surgery) did not differ to a statistically significant extent. The rates of miscarriage (>12 weeks) and cervical incompetency increased according to the size of the adenomyosis. The rates of pregnancy-induced hypertension and uterine infection in patients with diffuse-type adenomyosis were higher than that in patients with focal-type adenomyosis. Conclusions:Our results show that the increased size and diffuse type of adenomyosis are associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. We should be aware of the higher incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension and uterine infection in patients with diffuse-type adenomyosis. K E Y W O R D Sadenomyosis, complication, miscarriage, pregnancy, preterm delivery

A sensitive enzyme immunoassay (IMx) for the squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen was used to evaluate low concentrations of this marker in the blood circulation. The assay can detect 0.05 ng/ml of serum SCC antigen, with intra- and interassay variabilities of 4.8 and 8.9%, respectively. Daily changes in serum SCC antigen were determined in healthy volunteers and in patients with cervical squamous-cell carcinoma after complete resection of the primary tumor, which revealed that, although the absolute values were variable from one case to another, the daily changes were relatively constant in each case, with a mean daily variation of 24.1 ± 3.7% (mean ± SE). The determination of the cutoff value for each individual patient may be effective for the early detection of an abnormal rise of circulating tumor marker, and will be useful in detecting small tumor foci during follow-up after treatment.

Squamous-cell carcinoma antigen (SCC antigen), formerly referred to as TA-4, is closely related to the grade of differentiation. Immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated that SCC antigen is also increased in the keratinizing or large-cell nonkeratinizing type of squamous-cell carcinoma but not in the small cell type. On the other hand, the appearance rate of SCC antigen in the blood circulation is almost the same in these three types of squamous-cell carcinoma. The present study was conducted to clarify the discrepancy in the production and release of this tumor marker using a squamous-cell carcinoma cell line, SKG-IIIa. SKG-IIIa cells were treated with 10 μM 5-azacytidine, a potent hypomethylating agent, to obtain several sublines with different behavior in the production of SCC antigen, and cloned by a limiting dilution technique. One subline (B-5) released significantly greater amounts of SCC antigen into the incubation medium as compared with other sublines (A-5). In in vivo studies, groups of nude mice received subcutaneous injections of the A-5 or B-5 subline, and the serum SCC antigen levels were determined after the animals exhibited palpable tumors. The serum levels of SCC antigen were significantly higher in the animals inoculated with the B-5 cells than in those inoculated with the A-5 cells. On the other hand, fiow-cytometric analysis and immunohistochemical studies using a polyclonal antibody revealed that the intracellular contents of SCC antigen were greater in the A-5 cells than in the B-5 cells. Radioautography was performed using a ¹²⁵I-labeled monoclonal antibody specific against the acidic fraction of this marker, a dominant form released outside the cells, which revealed that the production of the acidic fraction was somewhat greater in the B-5 cells than in the A-5 cells. These results suggest that the production and release of SCC antigen are different phenomena in squamous-cell carcinoma and that the release of SCC antigen is likely influenced by the production of the acidic fraction.