Induction of early decidualization by cadmium, a major contaminant of cigarette smoke

To investigate the effect of cadmium (Cd) contamination on endometrial function, human endometrial stromal cells were isolated and cultured with E2 plus P in the presence of Cd, a major contaminant in cigarette smoke, and assayed for PRL concentrations and its messenger RNA expression. Cd significantly increased PRL concentrations in the culture media and significantly up-regulated PRL messenger RNA expression of the endometrial stromal cells, suggesting that Cd stimulates decidualization of the endometrium and may disrupt endometrial environment, causing early decidualization.