CYCLIC CHANGES OF CERVICAL-MUCUS ENZYMES RELATED TO TIME OF OVULATION .2. AMINO PEPTIDASE AND ESTERASE

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 48  (3) , 347-350
Abstract
The enzymes amino peptidase and esterase were identified in human cervical mucus. Their concentration was serially determined during a menstrual cycle in 5 normal ovulatory women and correlated with the time of ovulation as monitored by the basal body temperature and radioimmunoassay of serum luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone and estradiol (E2). The activity of both enzymes decreased at midcycle just before the LH surge and began to rise after ovulation. The preovulatory decline in enzyme activity was signficant for esterase but not for amino peptidase. The site of production and functional significance of these enzymes are not at present identified.