Abstract
THE observation that mitoses are much less frequent in the uterine epithelium of intact animals during the secretory phase of the œstrous cycle (a period associated with secretion of progesterone by the ovary) than in the proliferative phase1 suggests that progesterone may inhibit mitosis in this epithelium. Such an action might be of significance when considering the ætiology of glandular cystic hyperplasia and carcinoma of the corpus uteri, conditions in the development of which prolonged action of œstrogen unopposed by progesterone has been suggested as a factor2,3. Courrier and Poumeau-Delille4 showed that subcutaneous administration of progesterone prevented the appearance of mitoses in the epithelium normally produced by intrauterine administration of œstradiol in rabbits; on the other hand, Lloyd5 and Epifanova6 found that systematic administration of progesterone alone stimulated uterine epithelial mitotic activity. No observations on this phenomena have previously been reported either for fœtal material or when progesterone is applied directly to the uterus.
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EVERETT, J. Action of Œstrogens and Progesterone on Uterine Epithelial Mitosis in Organ Culture. Nature 198, 896 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/198896a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/198896a0
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