A Clinical Study Of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptors In Pregnant Myometrium

In our study the maternal plasma corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) concentration of normal pregnant women and corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor (CRHR) m RNA and protein expression in the lower segment of nonpregnant, term pregnant myometrium before and at labor were detected by radioimmunoassy (RIA), Realtime-PCR, Western Blotting and immunohistochemistry respectively to further study the role of CRH in human gestation and parturition. Results 1. Maternal plasma CRH increases along with pregnant progress, peaking up after 41th gestation week before parturition, falling down immediately postpartum.2. The m RNA and protein of CRHR1 and CRHR2 were expressed in the lower segment of no pregnant and term pregnant myometrium before and at labor.3. The m RNA and protein expression of CRHRl and CRHR2 in the lower segment of term pregnant myometrium before and at labor had no significant difference (P>0.05).4. CRHRl protein were distributed in cytoplast, some cytomembrane of smooth muscle cell, some intima glands and phorocytes in the lower segment of no pregnant and pregnant myometrium. CRHR2 protein was distributed in cytoplast and cytomembrane of smooth muscle cell in the lower segment of term pregnant myometrium.ConcIusion The pregnant maternal plasma CRH was closely related to pregnancy and parturition. The expression of CRHRl and CRHR2 in myometrium suggested CRHRl and CRHR2 may contribute to the excitation and contracting of uterine smooth muscle.