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Detection of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors R1 and R2 (CRH-R1, CRH-R2) using fluorescence immunohistochemistry in the myometrium of women delivering pretern or at term

Immunhistochemische Expression der Corticotropin Releasing Hormon Rezeptoren R1/2 und R2 im Myometrium von Frauen mit Frühgeburten oder am Termin

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Zusammenfassung

Einleitung

Ziel unserer Studie war es, einen Unterschied in der Expression der Corticotropin Releasing Hormon Rezeptoren R1/2 und R2 im Myometrium von Frauen mit Frühgeburten oder am Termin entbundener Kinder, mit oder ohne Wehentätigkeit der Mutter, zu bestimmen.

Material, Patienten und Methode

Bei insgesamt 40 Patientinnen, die per Kaiserschnitt entbunden hatten, wurde Myometrium gewonnen. Im Material von jeweils 10 Patientinnen, die Frühgeburten oder reife Kinder, mit oder ohne Wehentätigkeit, zur Welt brachten, wurde die immunhistochemische Expression mit Hilfe zweier Antikörper gegen CRH-R1/2 und CRH-R2 durchgeführt. Die Beurteilung erfolgte durch histologische Begutachtung von 3 unabhängigen Personen.

Resultate

Bei Frauen am Termin ohne Wehentätigkeit konnte ein Expression des CRH-R2 festgestellt werden. Bei jenen mit Wehen am Termin konnte in 8 von 10 Fällen keine Expression nachgewiesen werden. Im Myometrium der Frauen die Frühgeburten entbunden hatten, zeigte sich kein Unterschied in der Expression des CRH-R2. Der CRH-R1/2 Rezeptor wurde generell in allen vier Gruppen in der gleichen Intensität exprimiert.

Zusammenfassung

Die ausgeprägte Expression des CRH-R2 Rezeptors im Myometrium von Frauen am Termin vor Beginn, verbunden mit der Abnahme der Expression unter der Wehentätigkeit, könnte ein weiterer Hinweis der zentralen Rolle des Corticotropin Releasing Hormon in der Entstehung der Wehentätigkeit sein.

Summary

Objective

To determine differences in expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors R1 and R2 in the myometrium of women delivering preterm or at term, with or without labor.

Material and methods

Small pieces of myometrial smooth muscle were taken from forty patients undergoing caesarian section. One sample each was taken from all preterm and term patients, with and without labor. Antibodies against CRH-R1/2 and CRH-R2 were used for localization by conventional fluorescence immunohistochemistry. The evaluation of staining was based on examination of the entire histologic section by three independent observers.

Results

In women at term, CRH-R2 levels were elevated before labor and decreased with the onset of labor. In eight of 10 term samples from women in labor, no staining was detected. In preterm patients we found no difference in CRH-R2 staining between women with and without labor. The intensity of staining for CRH-R1/2 was generally uniform in all four groups.

Conclusion

The high level of CRH-R2 expression in term patients without labor, together with the subsequent decrease of CRH-R2 in the myometrium during progression of labor, is consistent with the possibility that CRH may have autocrine/paracrine effects on myometrial contractility in the lower segment of the uterus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vienna School of Medicine, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

    Stefan Jirecek MD, Barbara Tringler, Martin Knöfler, Sandra Bauer, Ata Topcuoglu & Christian Egarter

Authors
  1. Stefan Jirecek MD
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  2. Barbara Tringler
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  3. Martin Knöfler
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  4. Sandra Bauer
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  5. Ata Topcuoglu
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  6. Christian Egarter
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Correspondence to Stefan Jirecek MD.

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Jirecek, S., Tringler, B., Knöfler, M. et al. Detection of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors R1 and R2 (CRH-R1, CRH-R2) using fluorescence immunohistochemistry in the myometrium of women delivering pretern or at term. Wien Klin Wochenschr 115, 724–727 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03040890

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03040890

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