title: Effect of letrozole on estradiol production and P450 aromatase messenger RNA expression of cultured luteinized granulosa cells from women with and without endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the estradiol production and P450 aromatase messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of cultured luteinized granulosa cells and the effect of letrozole on these parameters between women with and without endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro assays.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reproductive medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF): 23 patients with endometriosis and 19 controls without endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Luteinized granulosa cells examined for estradiol levels and P450 aromatase mRNA expression in conditioned media at different letrozole concentrations of 0.0, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 μmol/L.
  
  
  METHODS
  Estradiol levels of the conditioned medium measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and P450 aromatase mRNA expression determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (QT RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The estradiol concentration of the conditioned media and P450 aromatase mRNA expression in the endometriosis group were statistically significantly lower than that of the control group, irrespective of letrozole concentrations. A statistically significant reduction of these two parameters was observed in both endometriosis and control groups at letrozole concentrations of 1 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L, but there were no statistically significant differences between letrozole concentrations of 1 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L. The number of high-quality embryos in the endometriosis group was statistically significantly lower than that of the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower estradiol production and P450 aromatase mRNA expression of cultured granulosa cells were found in women with endometriosis. Letrozole in the conditioned media further reduced these parameters.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medical Center, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital Affiliated, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. luxiang75@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiao-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yong-Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Xi
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006107:Granulosa Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D000077289:Letrozole; D034461:Luteinization / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014230:Triazoles; D004958:Estradiol; D000077289:Letrozole; D001141:Aromatase