Immunoperoxidase localization of prolactin in endometrium during normal menstrual, luteal phase defect, and corrected luteal phase defect cycles.

An avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase staining technique for human prolactin (hPRL) was developed for determination of the location of PRL-producing cells in the endometrium of women with normal menstrual cycles (NMC), luteal phase defects (LPD), and corrected LPD cycles (CLPD). One hundred eight biopsy specimens were studied. Fifty-six patients had NMC, 29 had LPD, and 23 had CLPD. Only decidualized stromal cells stained specifically for hPRL. There was no specific staining in specimens dated earlier than day 25. All specimens dated later than day 25 exhibited decidual cell staining. In specimens dated day 25, 15 of 20 NMC, 5 of 11 CLPD, and 6 of 10 LPD demonstrated decidual staining (P greater than 0.1). These findings suggest that decidual cells are responsible for hPRL production in late secretory endometrium and that the ability of decidual cells to stain for hPRL is dependent on the histologic date of the endometrium and not on the diagnosis of LPD or CLPD.