Identification of urocortin mRNA and peptide in the human endometrium.
Urocortin is a 40-amino acid peptide belonging to the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family. In human reproductive tissues, urocortin expression has been previously demonstrated in the ovary, in the placenta and fetal membranes and in pregnant uterine tissues, while no data are available on the expression of the peptide in the nonpregnant uterus. In this study, urocortin expression was evaluated by both immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, in human uterine tissues and cells at different phases of the menstrual cycle. Urocortin was immunolocalized in endometrial epithelial and stromal cells, as well as in the myometrium, and in vascular smooth muscle cells. No differences between proliferative and secretory phase were observed. These results were confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of isolated endometrial epithelial and stromal cells, and myometrial specimens. These findings open new questions on the roles played by urocortin in the human uterus.
Florio
P
P
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Arcuri
F
F
Ciarmela
P
P
Runci
Y
Y
Romagnoli
R
R
Cintorino
M
M
Di Blasio
A M
AM
Petraglia
F
F
D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry; D009215:Myometrium / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D054832:Urocortins
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054832:Urocortins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone