Expression of Luteinizing Hormone(LH) Gene in Human Uterus / 대한불임학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies, including our own, demonstrated that the novel expression of LH gene in rat gonads and uterus, indicating that the local production and action of the LH-like molecule. In the present study, we investigated whether human uterus also expresses the LH gene. DESIGN: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplified the cDNA fragments coding LHbeta polypeptide from human endometrium but not from myometrium. Presence of the transcripts for the alpha-subunit in human endometrium was also confirmed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Transcripts for LHbeta subunit were detected in endometrial samples from women with endometriosis. The gene for LH/hCG receptor was expressed in both endometrium and myometrium, showing good agreement with previous studies. Increased level of LHbeta transcript was determined in the endometrium from follicular phase compared to that from luteal phase. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our findings demonstrated that 1) the gense for LH subunits and LH/hCG receptor are expressed in human uterus, 2) the uterine LH expression was changed during menstrual cycle, suggesting that the uterine LH may play a local role in the control of uterine physiology and function(s).