title: Expression of messenger ribonucleic acid encoding steroidogenic enzymes in postmenopausal ovaries.
abstract: To investigate expression of steroidogenic enzymes involved in androgen and estrogen synthesis in the stroma of postmenopausal ovaries.Ovarian stromal tissue samples were obtained at hysterectomy from postmenopausal women who had hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Tissues were frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen and kept frozen until RNA was extracted. Total RNA was examined by Northern blot analysis using (32)P-labeled cDNA probes encoding human P450 side chain cleavage (P450(SSC)), P450(17alpha), and cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450(arom)). Concentrations of mRNA encoding cytochrome P450(SSC), cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase (CYP17), and P450(arom) were determined in the ovarian stroma. We detected P450(SSC) mRNA in all postmenopausal ovaries studied. P450(SSC) mRNA was increased threefold in the ovarian stroma of postmenopausal women with endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia. CYP17 mRNA was detected in the ovarian stroma of all women with endometrial cancer. P450(arom) mRNA was not detected in the ovaries studied. Postmenopausal ovaries possess enzymes for initiation of steroidogenesis. Enzymes essential for androgen synthesis were expressed in the ovarian stroma of postmenopausal women with endometrial cancer or hyperplasia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Galveston, Texas, USA. mnagaman@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Manubai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagamani
authors.forename: Randall J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Urban
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics*; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme / Q000235:genetics*; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000201:enzymology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology*; D017698:Postmenopause; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001141:Aromatase; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase; D002786:Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme