Change of expression of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor in endometrium of polycystic ovarian syndrome patients during induced ovulation

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the change of expression of estrogen receptor(ER) and progesterone receptor(PR) in endometrium of polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS) patients during induced ovulation and its clinical significance.Methods We recruited 108 PCOS patients as the disease group and 96 women with tubal infertility as the normal control group.Both groups were randomly divided into three groups with equal numbers (metaphase of generation group,metaphase of secretion group and ovulation group) and were tested the change of ER and PR levels in endometrium of PCOS patients at the fifth day after menstruation,ovulation period and the seventh day after ovulation with way of immunohistochemistry.Results There was marked change of ER and PR in the menstrual cycle of healthy controls.The levels of ER and PR were (0.89 ± 0.22) kU/L and (0.72 ±0.25) kU/L,and (1.65 ± 0.42) kU/L and (1.43 ± 0.42) kU/L respectively at metaphase of generation and (0.92 ± 0.29) kU/Land (0.87 ± 0.34) kU/L,and (1.68 ± 0.42) kU/L and (1.56 ± 0.30) kU/L respectively at metaphase of secretion.Positive gland decreased significantly during ovulation period (ER:(0.69 ± 0.35) kU/L and (0.55 ± 0.24) kU/L; PR:(0.97 ± 0.32) kU/L and (0.69 ± 0.30) kU/L).The levels of ER of stroma and positive gland in menstruation of PCOS patients were significantly higher than in menstruation of normal women during all the stages of menstrual cycle and did not have non-linear change (Metaphase of generation:(1.73 ± 0.22) kU/L and (1.89 ± 0.38) kU/L; Ovulation:(0.75 ± 0.32) kU/L and (0.63 ± 0.28) kU/L;Metaphase of secretion:(1.79 ± 0.31) kU/L and (1.90 ± 0.30) kU/L).The levels of PR in menstruation of PCOS patients were significantly lower than in menstruation of normal women during all stages of menstrual cycle (P ＜ 0.05).We did not observe trend of elevation of PR levels in PCOS patients (Metaphase of generation:(0.93 ±0.36) kU/L and (0.85 ± 0.56) kU/L; Ovulation:(0.77 ± 0.26) kU/L and (0.56 ± 0.41) kU/L) ;Metaphase of secretion:(0.98 ±0.36)kU/L and (0.88 ±0.47)kU/L).Conclusion The expressions of ER and PR in endometrium of PCOS patients are abnormal during all stages of induced ovulation.The endometrial receptivity of PCOS patients is worse than normal women.Improving the receptivity of ER and PR of PCOS patients is one of the ways to enhance pregnancy of PCOS patients. Key words: Polycystic ovarian syndrome; Ovulation period; Estrogen receptor