Immunoreactive gonadotropin-releasing hormone expression in cycling human endometrium of fertile patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protein expression of GnRH in the endometrium of fertile patients throughout the menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Prospective longitudinal study.


METHODS
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Reproductive Immunology Laboratory, Stanford University Medical Center.


METHODS
Twenty-two fertile premenopausal women submitted to laparoscopic surgery for benign gynecologic indications. None of the 22 women had endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease.


METHODS
An endometrial biopsy specimen using the Novak curette was obtained at the time of surgery.


METHODS
Protein expression and localization from unfractioned endometrial tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is expressed at the protein level in both the endometrial stroma and epithelium throughout the entire menstrual cycle of fertile women. Immunostaining in the human epithelium reached maximal levels in the midluteal phase and was elevated in the stroma throughout the entire luteal phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate the presence of GnRH in the human endometrium at the protein level throughout the entire menstrual cycle of fertile women, with an increase in the luteal phase compared with the preovulatory endometrium.
Casañ
E M
EM
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, California, USA. evacasan@leland.stanford.edu
Raga
F
F
Kruessel
J S
JS
Wen
Y
Y
Nezhat
C
C
Polan
M L
ML
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone