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 ofgrowth 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 treatmentbetween March 2009 and September 2010 were selected, among which 20 were in stagesI, II, III and IV respectively. 50 non-EM patients who underwent hysterectomy because ofmyoma during the same period comprised the control group. GHRH, GHRH-SV1 and theircorresponding mRNA expression in eutopic endometrium and endometriotic tissue as wellas ectopic endometrium were detected using immunohistochemical streptavidin-peroxidase(SP) and RT-PCR methods. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Tukey Post Hoc test wasused for data analysis and p<0.05 was considered significant.Results: GHRH, GHRH-SV1 and their corresponding mRNA were expressed in eutopicendometrium and endometriotic tissue as well as ectopic endometrium. The mean opticaldensity (OD) values of the GHRH and GHRH-SV1 expression in the experimental groupwere 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 groupwas also significantly higher (p<0.05). The mean OD values of the GHRH and GHRHSV1expression showed significant differences among endometriotic tissue at differentstages of EM (p<0.05), and the RI of GHRH and GHRH-SV1 mRNA expression alsoshowed significant differences (p<0.05).Conclusion: GHRH and GHRH-SV1 expression levels differ significantly at differentstages of endometriosis.