Comparison of Expression of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone and Its Receptor Splice Variant 1 in Different Stages of Endometriosis

BACKGROUND: The present study aims to explore the significance of the expression of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and its receptor splice variant 1 (GHRHSV1) in endometriosis (EM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this research paper 80 EM patients who received treatment between March 2009 and September 2010 were selected, among which 20 were in stages I, II, III and IV respectively. 50 non-EM patients who underwent hysterectomy because of myoma during the same period comprised the control group. GHRH, GHRH-SV1 and their corresponding mRNA expression in eutopic endometrium and endometriotic tissue as well as ectopic endometrium were detected using immunohistochemical streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) and RT-PCR methods. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Tukey Post Hoc test was used for data analysis and p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: GHRH, GHRH-SV1 and their corresponding mRNA were expressed in eutopic endometrium and endometriotic tissue as well as ectopic endometrium. The mean optical density (OD) values of the GHRH and GHRH-SV1 expression in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (p<0.05), and the relative intensity (RI) of GHRH mRNA and GHRH-SV1 mRNA expression in the experimental group was also significantly higher (p<0.05). The mean OD values of the GHRH and GHRHSV1 expression showed significant differences among endometriotic tissue at different stages of EM (p<0.05), and the RI of GHRH and GHRH-SV1 mRNA expression also showed significant differences (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: GHRH and GHRH-SV1 expression levels differ significantly at different stages of endometriosis.