title: Comparison of expression of growth hormone-releasing hormone and its receptor splice variant 1 in different stages of endometriosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aims to explore the significance of the expression of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and its receptor splice variant 1 (GHRHSV1) in endometriosis (EM).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this research paper 80 EM patients who received treatment between March 2009 and September 2010 were selected, among which 20 were in stages I, II, III and IV respectively. 50 non-EM patients who underwent hysterectomy because of myoma during the same period comprised the control group. GHRH, GHRH-SV1 and their corresponding mRNA expression in eutopic endometrium and endometriotic tissue as well as ectopic endometrium were detected using immunohistochemical streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) and RT-PCR methods. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Tukey Post Hoc test was used for data analysis and p<0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GHRH, GHRH-SV1 and their corresponding mRNA were expressed in eutopic endometrium and endometriotic tissue as well as ectopic endometrium. The mean optical density (OD) values of the GHRH and GHRH-SV1 expression in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (p<0.05), and the relative intensity (RI) of GHRH mRNA and GHRH-SV1 mRNA expression in the experimental group was also significantly higher (p<0.05). The mean OD values of the GHRH and GHRHSV1 expression showed significant differences among endometriotic tissue at different stages of EM (p<0.05), and the RI of GHRH and GHRH-SV1 mRNA expression also showed significant differences (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GHRH and GHRH-SV1 expression levels differ significantly at different stages of endometriosis.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital, Ningbo, China.
authors: Qiming
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Pathology, The Second Hospital of Shaanxi Traditional Chinese Medicare University, Xianyang, China.
authors: Yueyue
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital, Ningbo, China.
authors: Xianhu
authors: X
authors: Fu
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital, Ningbo, China.
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Huang
keywords: Endometriosis; Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone; Splice Variant