Does advanced-stage endometriosis affect the gene expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in granulosa cells?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate how endometriosis affects the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors mRNA in granulosa cells.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
IVF-ET program at Osaka Medical College.


METHODS
Eighteen patients with revised American Fertility Society stage IV endometriosis and 23 patients with tubal infertility without endometriosis.


METHODS
Granulosa cells obtained from patients with endometriosis were examined for estrogen (ER-β, ER-α) and progesterone (PR-A, PR-B) receptor mRNA expression ratio against GAPDH.


METHODS
Hormonal environment and clinical outcome were investigated. Expression of ER and PR mRNA were evaluated by StepOne real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.


RESULTS
Total hMG/FSH levels were statistically higher in patients with endometriosis; however, high-quality embryo rates and pregnancy rates were lower in patients with endometriosis than in patients with tubal infertility. Expression of PR-A and ER-α in patients with endometriosis was statistically higher than in patients with tubal infertility. The expression of PRs and ERs in patients with tubal infertility showed a positive correlation; however, it was not identified in the endometriosis group.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher PR-A and ER-α gene expression in granulosa cells in patients with endometriosis, compared with patients with tubal infertility, might be a leading cause of ovarian dysfunction due to endometriosis.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan.
Masako
M
Karita
Yoshiki
Y
Yamashita
Atsushi
A
Hayashi
Yoko
Y
Yoshida
Mika
M
Hayashi
Hikaru
H
Yamamoto
Akiko
A
Tanabe
Yoshito
Y
Terai
Masahide
M
Ohmichi
D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C101118:progesterone receptor A; C097314:progesterone receptor B