title: Human endometrium expresses urocortin II and III messenger RNA and peptides.
abstract: Urocortin II and urocortin III are recently identified corticotropin-releasing factor-related neuropeptides, and their endometrial expression throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy was evaluated in the present study by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. The endometrial expression of urocortin II mRNA was significantly (P<.01) higher in the early proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle than in other phases and maternal decidua (MD), whereas that of urocortin III mRNA was higher (P<.01) in MD than in all other endometrial samples. Both peptides were immunolocalized in epithelial, stromal, and endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Florio
authors.forename: Paulo B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toti
authors.forename: Wylie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D054832:Urocortins
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D054832:Urocortins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone