Zuo J, Lei Z M, Rao C V
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky 40292.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1994 Sep;79(3):907-11. doi: 10.1210/jcem.79.3.8077381.
Nonpregnant human myometrium contains functional hCG/LH receptors. The present study investigated whether pregnant human myometrium also contains these receptors and whether they vary as a function of delivery in preterm or term pregnancies. Northern blotting revealed that pregnant human myometrium contains 4.3- and 2.2-kilobase receptor messenger ribonucleic acid transcripts. Immunoblotting with a specific hCG/LH receptor antibody showed that myometrium contains 70- and 50-kilodalton immunoreactive proteins. Ligand blotting demonstrated that only the 50-kilodalton protein could bind [125I]hCG, and this binding was inhibited by excess unlabeled hCG. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry revealed that the receptor messenger ribonucleic acid and receptor protein are present in myometrial and vascular smooth muscle. The myometrial smooth muscle receptor levels were lower during labor compared to those before labor at preterm and term pregnancy. In summary, our study demonstrates that pregnant human myometrium express hCG/LH receptor gene. The receptor levels were lower during labor compared to those before labor in preterm or term pregnancy. These data suggest that hCG, via its receptors, may contribute to myometrial quiescence until labor begins at the end of pregnancy.
未孕的人体子宫肌层含有功能性的人绒毛膜促性腺激素/促黄体生成素（hCG/LH）受体。本研究调查了妊娠的人体子宫肌层是否也含有这些受体，以及它们是否会随着早产或足月妊娠分娩情况的不同而变化。Northern印迹法显示，妊娠的人体子宫肌层含有4.3千碱基和2.2千碱基的受体信使核糖核酸转录本。用特异性hCG/LH受体抗体进行免疫印迹分析表明，子宫肌层含有70千道尔顿和50千道尔顿的免疫反应性蛋白。配体印迹法表明，只有50千道尔顿的蛋白能够结合[125I]hCG，并且这种结合会被过量的未标记hCG所抑制。原位杂交和免疫细胞化学显示，受体信使核糖核酸和受体蛋白存在于子宫肌层和血管平滑肌中。与早产和足月妊娠临产前相比，分娩期间子宫肌层平滑肌的受体水平较低。总之，我们的研究表明，妊娠的人体子宫肌层表达hCG/LH受体基因。与早产或足月妊娠临产前相比，分娩期间受体水平较低。这些数据表明，hCG通过其受体可能有助于维持子宫肌层的静息状态，直至妊娠末期分娩开始。
