title: The presence of chorionic gonadotrophin beta subunit in normal cyclic human endometrium.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine whether human endometrial cells are able to secrete beta-chorionic gonadotrophin (betaCG). Immunohistochemical studies and in-situ hybridization were performed in order to provide evidence for the occurrence of betaCG in the normal endometrium in 15 patients in the proliferative phase, two patients in the periovulatory phase and 13 patients in the secretory phase. Neither immunohistochemical nor hybridization reactions could be recognized during the proliferative phase. In contrast, both protein and betaCG mRNA were observed in the glandular cells of the endometrium during the secretory phase. The results were supported by Western blotting of secretory phase endometrium extracts and the assessment of the functional secretory capacity of primary endometrium cultures. In comparison with cultured and separated cell fractions, tissue extracts showed a higher betaCG, indicating a regulatory interaction. In conclusion, betaCG can be demonstrated in normal human cyclic endometrium, suggesting a paracrine role in endometrial physiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Wolkersdörfer
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bornstein
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hilbers
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Biesold
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000032:analysis*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human