Localization and expression of oxytocin receptor and its messenger ribonucleic acid in peri-implantation phase human endometrium during control and clomiphene-treated cycles

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 181; no. 1; pp. 50 - 56
• Main Authors: Dawood, M.Yusoff, Lau, Manhot, Khan-Dawood, Firyal S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Mosby, Inc 01.07.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Blotting, Western; Clomiphene; Clomiphene - pharmacology; DNA Primers; endometrium; Endometrium - drug effects; Female; Fertility Agents, Female - pharmacology; Gene Expression Regulation; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; implantation; Luteal Phase; Medical sciences; messenger ribonucleic acid; oxytocin receptor; Progesterone - blood; Receptors, Oxytocin - drug effects; Receptors, Oxytocin - genetics; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - drug effects; Sterility. Assisted procreation; United States; North America; America; endometrium; oxytocin receptor; messenger ribonucleic acid; implantation; Clomiphene; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Non steroidal estrogen; Ovulation inducer; Oxytocin; Clomifene; Gene expression; Neuropeptide; Pathology; Messenger RNA; Ovum implantation; Neurohypophyseal hormone; Adult; Female; Endometrium; Comparative study; Hormonal receptor
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9378(99)70435-7

Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine expression levels of oxytocin receptor and its gene in peri-implantation phase human endometrium during clomiphene-treated cycles compared with control cycles. Study Design: Oxytocin receptor and its messenger ribonucleic acid in peri-implantation phase endometrium during control and clomiphene-treated (50 mg days 5 to 9) cycles of 5 healthy fertile women were determined by immunohistochemical methods, Western blot analysis with monoclonal antibody against amino acids 20 through 40 of the extracellular N-terminal human oxytocin receptor, and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction with oligonucleotide primers to amplify the 391–base pair fragment of the oxytocin receptor gene. Results: Oxytocin receptor and its messenger ribonucleic acid were expressed in human peri-implantation phase endometrial samples from both control and clomiphene-treated cycles. The receptor was localized predominantly in the epithelial cells and glands, with little or none detected in the stroma. Oxytocin receptor protein was separated out as a single 70-kd band by Western blot analysis; its relative abundance was significantly reduced during clomiphene-treated cycles. The messenger ribonucleic acid was detected in all endometrium during control and clomiphene-treated cycles, with greater expression during control cycles. Conclusions: The expressions of oxytocin receptor and its gene in luteal phase human endometrium suggest a functional relevance in modulation of biochemical changes for implantation. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:50-6.)