EXPRESSION OF SEX HORMONE-BINDING GLOBULIN AND CORTICOSTEROID-BINDINGGLOBULIN MESSENGER-RNAS IN CORPUS-LUTEUM OF HUMAN-SUBJECTS

To understand the biology of sex steroids in human ovarian corpus lute um, the expression of intracellular sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG ) and corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) mRNAs as a manifestation o f intracellular SHBG and CBG expression was determined. The expression of SHBG and CBG mRNAs was detected in all samples analyzed. Luteal SH BG mRNA level showed no significant change during the endometrial secr etory phase of the menstrual cycle. On the other hand, luteal CBG mRNA level was significantly higher (p < 0.05) at the mid-secretory phase than that at the early and late secretory phases of the endometrium. T hese findings suggest that human ovarian corpus luteum synthesizes SHB G and CBG intracellularly, CBG being plausibly involved in the functio nal life span of corpus luteum.