Effect of hormones and antihormones on phospholipase A2 activity in human endometrial stromal cells

Phospholipase A2 activity was studied in isolated human endometrial predecidual cells, and in human endometrium collected from day 19–23 of the menstrual cycle, by performing a radiochemical assay. Phospholipase A2 activity on day 20 was significantly higher than other days (P < 0.001), and the activity was found to gradually decrease after day 20 of the menstrual cycle. The effects of the hormones estradiol and progesterone, and antihormones tamoxifen and RU 486, were studied on the phospholipase A2 activity in isolated predecidual stromal cells. Estradiol produced a significant stimulatory effect (P < 0.001) on phospholipase A2 activity in predecidual cells, and this effect was antagonized by tamoxifen. The combination of estradiol and tamoxifen was significantly different from estradiol alone (P < 0.001), but not from tamoxifen alone. RU 486 alone significantly increased (P < 0.001) phospholipase A2 activity in predecidual stromal cells. However, progesterone had no effect on phospholipase A2 activity in predecidual stromal cells.