Proteins in human uterine fluid

Abstract
The proteins in saline washings from uteri of women at different stages of the menstrual cycle were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 4.5 and pH 8.9, isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide and immunoelectrophoresis. The components present were mainly serum proteins but small amounts of uterine-specific proteins were also detected. Measurement of the activities of several glycosidases in uterine washings revealed that .alpha.-L-fucosidase, .beta.-N-acetylgalactosaminidase and .beta.-N-acetylglucosaminidase were elevated when compared with serum.