title: Cellular distribution of growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor in human reproductive system and breast and prostate cancers.
abstract: Growth hormone releasing hormone receptor (GHRH-R) mRNA and protein was first localized to the anterior pituitary gland, consequent with the action of its ligand on GH synthesis and release. Subsequent studies found GHRH-R also expressed in the hypothalamus and in systemic tissues including those of the reproductive system. In the present work, we studied the distribution of GHRH-R in human reproductive system of males and females by immunohistochemical method. GHRH-R immunostaining was localized in male reproductive system: Leydig cells, Sertoli and basal germ cells of the seminiferous tubules and prostate secretory cells. GHRH-R immunostaining was also demonstrated in the ovary: oocytes, follicular cells, granulosa, thecal and corpus luteum cells. Endometrial glands, placenta and normal mammary glands also showed GHRH-R immunostaining. Our results demonstrate the localization of GHRH-R in the reproductive system, which may mediate the direct action of GHRH in these tissues. Moreover, GHRH-R was demonstrated in prostate and breast carcinomas, opening a variety of possibilities for the use of GHRH antagonists in the treatment of prostatic and mammary tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphological Sciences, School of Medicine, San Francisco s/n, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain. cmrgalle@usc.es
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pintos
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: García-Caballero
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raghay
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boulanger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beiras
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaudreau
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morel
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018017:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone-Regulating Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D018017:Receptors, Pituitary Hormone-Regulating Hormone; C048250:somatotropin releasing hormone receptor