The effect of mifepristone on the expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1, prolactin and progesterone receptor mRNA and protein during the implantation phase in human endometrium

• Published in: Molecular human reproduction 2002-11, Vol.8 (11), p.998-1004
• Main Authors: Qiu, Xiaoyan, Sun, Xiaoxi, Christow, Alexander, Ståbi, Berit, Gemzell-Danielsson, Kristina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal - pharmacology; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Embryo Implantation - drug effects; Embryo Implantation - physiology; endometrium; Endometrium - drug effects; Endometrium - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormone metabolism and regulation; Humans; IGFBP-1; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 - drug effects; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 - genetics; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 - metabolism; Mammalian female genital system; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; mifepristone; Mifepristone - pharmacology; progesterone receptor; prolactin; Prolactin - drug effects; Prolactin - genetics; Prolactin - metabolism; Receptors, Progesterone - drug effects; Receptors, Progesterone - genetics; Receptors, Progesterone - metabolism; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - drug effects; Vertebrates: reproduction
• ISSN: 1360-9947; 1460-2407; 1460-2407
• DOI: 10.1093/molehr/8.11.998

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and prolactin are recognized as crucial signals for the initiation and maintainance of decidualization. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of mifepristone on the expression of IGFBP-1, prolactin and progesterone receptors (PR) during the implantation phase in human endometrium. Eight fertile women were studied during control and treatment cycles. Treatment with 200 mg of mifepristone was administered on day LH +2. Endometrial samples were collected on day LH +6 to +8. Expression of IGFBP-1, prolactin and PR was identified using immunohistochemistry, and mRNA levels were determined with RT–PCR. In control specimens, IGFBP-1 and prolactin were localized to the cytoplasm of the endometrial glandular and to a lesser extent in stromal cells. In the same samples, PR immunoreactivity was detected in the nucleus of the endometrial stromal cells, and was absent from the glandular cells. After mifepristone treatment, there was a significant increase in the immunostaining and mRNA expression for IGFBP-1 and PR. Prolactin expression increased only slightly after treatment. These results support the view that administration of mifepristone in the early luteal phase does not simply retard endometrial development. Our findings provide further insight into the regulation of IGFBP-1 and prolactin by PR in the human endometrium in vivo.