Gene expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, but not its receptor, in human endometrium and decidua.

ABSTRACT

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has been reported to exist in extrahypothalamic tissues such as the placenta, gonads and mammary glands. While we have reported the presence of GnRH-mRNA in the rodent uterus, there have been no reports concerning gene expression of GnRH and its receptor (GnRH-R) in human endometrial tissue. In order to investigate the role of GnRH as a local regulator in the human endometrium, we examined the gene for GnRH and GnRH-R in non-pregnant endometrium and decidua of early pregnancy. Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blot analysis we found GnRH-mRNA but not GnRH-R-mRNA transcripts in the human endometrium and decidua at 7-9 weeks gestation. This is the first report that suggests GnRH gene expression in the human endometrium/decidua.