Florio P, Arcuri F, Ciarmela P, Runci Y, Romagnoli R, Cintorino M, Di Blasio A M, Petraglia F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, 53100 Siena, Italy.
J Endocrinol. 2002 May;173(2):R9-14. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.173r009.
Urocortin is a 40-amino acid peptide belonging to the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family. In human reproductive tissues, urocortin expression has been previously demonstrated in the ovary, in the placenta and fetal membranes and in pregnant uterine tissues, while no data are available on the expression of the peptide in the nonpregnant uterus. In this study, urocortin expression was evaluated by both immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, in human uterine tissues and cells at different phases of the menstrual cycle. Urocortin was immunolocalized in endometrial epithelial and stromal cells, as well as in the myometrium, and in vascular smooth muscle cells. No differences between proliferative and secretory phase were observed. These results were confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of isolated endometrial epithelial and stromal cells, and myometrial specimens. These findings open new questions on the roles played by urocortin in the human uterus.
尿皮质素是一种由40个氨基酸组成的肽，属于促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子（CRF）家族。在人类生殖组织中，先前已证实尿皮质素在卵巢、胎盘和胎膜以及妊娠子宫组织中表达，而关于该肽在非妊娠子宫中的表达尚无数据。在本研究中，通过免疫组织化学和逆转录-聚合酶链反应，对月经周期不同阶段的人类子宫组织和细胞中的尿皮质素表达进行了评估。尿皮质素免疫定位在子宫内膜上皮和基质细胞、子宫肌层以及血管平滑肌细胞中。增殖期和分泌期之间未观察到差异。对分离的子宫内膜上皮和基质细胞以及子宫肌层标本进行的逆转录-聚合酶链反应分析证实了这些结果。这些发现为尿皮质素在人类子宫中所起的作用提出了新的问题。
