Regulation of human oviductin mRNA expression in vivo

Objective: To examine changes in oviductin mRNA expression in oviductal muc osal tissue from fertile women throughout an ovulatory cycle. Design: Semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (R T-PCR) analysis of oviductin mRNA. Setting: University-based obstetrics and gynecology department. Subject(s): Twenty women undergoing laparoscopy for tubal sterilization or hysterectomy for uterine fibroids. Intervention(s): The mucosal layer was isolated from the oviduct tissue, an d semiquantitative RT-PCR was performed. Main Outcome Measure(s): The relationship between serum estradiol, luteiniz ing hormone, and progesterone concentrations and the expression of oviducti n mRNA. Result(s): There was a significant positive correlation between serum estra diol and luteinizing hormone concentrations and oviductin mRNA expression. There was a significant inverse correlation between serum progesterone conc entrations and oviductin mRNA expression. Conclusion(s): Little is known about the regulation of human oviductin. Thi s study was the first to examine the relationship between oviductin mRNA ex pression and serum estradiol and luteinizing hormone and progesterone conce ntrations in fertile women. Estradiol and luteinizing hormone both have a s timulatory effect on oviductin mRNA in humans, however, it is difficult to determine whether the effects are independent of one another, as the lutein izing hormone surge is dependent on the estradiol increase. Progesterone sh ows a clear inhibitory effect on oviductin mRNA. (Fertil Steril(R) 2001:75: 942-6. (C)2001 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).