Lei Z M, Reshef E, Rao V
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky 40292.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1992 Aug;75(2):651-9. doi: 10.1210/jcem.75.2.1379262.
hCG/human LH (hLH) receptors have recently been found in human endometrial and myometrial cells and uterine vasculature. The present study was undertaken to further corroborate the immunocytochemical evidence for the presence of vascular receptors. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses have revealed that human uterus contains a major 4.3-kilobase and a minor 2.6-kilobase hCG/hLH receptor mRNA transcript and that these transcripts are present in part in endometrial and myometrial vascular smooth muscle cells and vascular endothelial cells. Immunoblot and immunocytochemical analyses have revealed that human uterus also contains a single immunoreactive receptor protein, and that this receptor protein in part is present in endometrial and myometrial vascular smooth muscle and vascular endothelium. The expression of receptor mRNA and/or immunoreactive receptor protein was higher in myometrial than in endometrial blood vessels, and higher in vessels of both uterine compartments from the secretory compared to proliferative phase, postmenopause, or pregnancy. The blood vessels in omentum, broad ligament, and parametrium did not immunostain for hCG/hLH receptors. A blood vessel seen traversing through parametrium immunostained for the receptor protein only after it entered the myometrium. The blood vessels in nontarget tissues did not immunostain, whereas those in some target tissues, but not all of them, immunostained for the receptor protein. In summary, the present study demonstrates for the first time that human endometrial and myometrial vascular smooth muscle and endothelium express hCG/hLH receptor mRNA and immunoreactive receptor protein. These findings suggest that hCG/hLH may directly regulate blood flow in human uterus and other target tissues. The reproductive state dependency of uterine vascular receptors suggests that these receptors are probably regulated by other reproductive hormones.
人绒毛膜促性腺激素/人促黄体生成素（hLH）受体最近在人子宫内膜、子宫肌层细胞及子宫脉管系统中被发现。本研究旨在进一步确证血管受体存在的免疫细胞化学证据。Northern印迹和原位杂交分析显示，人子宫含有一条主要的4.3千碱基和一条次要的2.6千碱基的hCG/hLH受体mRNA转录本，且这些转录本部分存在于子宫内膜和子宫肌层的血管平滑肌细胞及血管内皮细胞中。免疫印迹和免疫细胞化学分析显示，人子宫还含有一种单一的免疫反应性受体蛋白，且该受体蛋白部分存在于子宫内膜和子宫肌层的血管平滑肌及血管内皮中。受体mRNA和/或免疫反应性受体蛋白的表达在子宫肌层血管中高于子宫内膜血管，且在分泌期相比增殖期、绝经后或妊娠期，子宫两个部分的血管中表达更高。大网膜、阔韧带和子宫旁组织中的血管对hCG/hLH受体无免疫染色。一条穿过子宫旁组织的血管仅在进入子宫肌层后才对受体蛋白进行免疫染色。非靶组织中的血管无免疫染色，而一些靶组织中的血管，但并非全部，对受体蛋白有免疫染色。总之，本研究首次证明人子宫内膜和子宫肌层的血管平滑肌及内皮表达hCG/hLH受体mRNA和免疫反应性受体蛋白。这些发现提示hCG/hLH可能直接调节人子宫及其他靶组织中的血流。子宫血管受体对生殖状态的依赖性提示这些受体可能受其他生殖激素调节。
