Expression and clinical implications of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and its receptors in endometriosis and adenomyosis

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical implications of Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone(GnRH)and its receptors(GnRH-R)in endometriosis(EMs)and adenomyosis(AM).Methods The specimens were collected from the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University and Worker's Hospital of Baotou Steel Group from 2010 to 2011,including 42 endometriosis,34 adenomyosis and 20 controls.Expression of GnRH and GnRH-R proteins was detected using immunohistochemistry.Results The expression of GnRH and GnRH-R in EM was decreased in ectopic endometrium than in eutopic endometrium and contols(P0.05).While in AM,the lower expression of GnRH and GnRH-R was detected in ectopic endometrium than in eutopic endometrium(P0.05),however,no significant difference of these two proteins was found between ectopic endometrium and controls(P0.05).There was higher expression of GnRH and GnRH-R in eutopic endometrium of EM and AM than in contols(P0.05).The expression of GnRH and GnRH-R was elevated in secretory phase than in proliferative phase in eutopic endometrium of EMs and AM and controls(P0.05).Conclusions GnRH may directly inhibit the implantation and growth of ectopic endometrium by its receptor,which provides the possibility of using GnRH analogue and antagonist in endometriosis and adenomyosis treatment.