Objective:To primarily investigate the expression pattern of tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme(TACE) in mouse endometrium during the estrus cycle.Methods:Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of TACE mRNA and protein in mouse endometrium during each stage of the estrus cycle.Results:The expression of TACE mRNA in mouse endometrium during estrus cycle had regular pattern.The TACE mRNA/β-actin mRNA expression in estrus stage was higher than those of the other 3 groups

and there was significant difference between estrus stage and the other 3 groups(P﹤0.01).Besides

there was no significant difference among the other 3 groups(P>0.05).Immunohistochemical analysis showed the same expression pattern of TACE in endometrium as RT-PCR.Conclusion:TACE may play a key role in cyclic changes of normal endometrium through proteolytic removal of the extracellular domain of multiple ligands of EGFR family to release their extracellular domains which is capable of activating EGFR signal way.