Expression and clinical significance of GnRHR and ER in eutopic and ectopic endometrium in adenomyosis

Objective To detect the expression of gonadotropin-realeasing hormone receptor(GnRHR)and estrogen receptor(ER)in eutopic and ectopic endometrium in adenomyosis and their relationship with clinical significance of adenomyosis.Methods Eutopic(study group A)and ectopic(study group B)endometrium tissue specimens were obtained from 51 patients with adenomyosis,who underwent hysterectomy,and 30 normal endometrium tissue samples as control group.Expression of GnRHR and ER in endometrial cells were measured immunohistochemically.Results ① Expressions of GnRHR and ER in group A were significantly higher than those in group B and normal control(P0.05).② In group A and normal endometrium,expressions of GnRHR were in a periodical pattern and significantly higher in secretory endometrium than proliferative stage(P0.01).However,no difference between proliferative phase and secretory phase was found in group B.③The expression of GnRHR was not related to ER in each group(P0.05).Conclusions GnRHR and ER are detectable in normal,eutopic and ectopic endometrium from patients with adenomyosis.The expression pattern of GnRHR in endometrium indicates direct effect of GnRH on adenomyosis growth and implantation via its receptor,as well as physiologic function of GnRH related to oosperm imbeding and growth in the normal endometrium.