US EPA

1977271 

Journal Article 

Somatostatin receptor 2 expression in the human endometrium through the menstrual cycle 

Green, VL; Richmond, I; Maguiness, S; Robinson, J; Helboe, L; Adams, IP; Drummond, NS; Atkin, SL 

2002 

Yes 

Clinical Endocrinology
ISSN: 0300-0664
EISSN: 1365-2265 

56 

5 

609-614 

English 

12030911 

10.1046/j.1365-2265.2002.01521.x 

WOS:000175692100009 

http://://WOS:000175692100009
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Objective Somatostatin mediates its many inhibitory
functions through five G-protein-coupled receptors (sstr(1-5)); however, it is not known whether
somatostatin or Its receptors are present in the endometrium. Design We have used
immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of normal human endometrium
from the menstrual (n=6), proliferative (n=15) and secretory (n=10) stages of the endometrial
cycle to determine the pattern of expression of somatostatin receptor (sstr) subtype 2. In
addition, we have used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the level of
expression of the sstr(2) mRNA in 17 samples of normal human endometrium. Patients Endometrial
tissue had been removed from patients undergoing dilation and curettage (D&C) for menorrhagia and
had been determined to be normal histologically. Measurements Immunostaining In the epithelium,
endothelium and the stroma of the endometrial sections was characterized and was scored positive
or negative. The PCR results were analysed using the software provided to standardize the
expression of sstr(2) against that of constitutively expressed beta-glucoronidase In the same
sample. A final percentage value of the level of sstr(2) expression was then determined. Results
sstr(2) was expressed variably throughout all the stages of the menstrual cycle in the
epithelium, the endothelium and the stroma. In particular, the position of sstr(2) expression
varied in the epithelial cells surrounding the endometrial glands from being basal or diffuse in
the proliferative and secretory phase to being lumenal in the menstrual stage. Quantitative PCR
showed that 15 of 17 samples expressed sstr(2) mRNA and the level of expression between
individual samples varied dramatically. Conclusions These data show that sstr(2) is present in
the endometrium and its location seems to vary through the menstrual cycle.