Does advanced-stage endometriosis affect the gene expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors in granulosa cells?

<bold>Objective: </bold>To evaluate how endometriosis affects the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors mRNA in granulosa cells.<bold>Design: </bold>Prospective study.<bold>Setting: </bold>IVF-ET program at Osaka Medical College.<bold>Patient(s): </bold>Eighteen patients with revised American Fertility Society stage IV endometriosis and 23 patients with tubal infertility without endometriosis.<bold>Intervention(s): </bold>Granulosa cells obtained from patients with endometriosis were examined for estrogen (ER-β, ER-α) and progesterone (PR-A, PR-B) receptor mRNA expression ratio against GAPDH.<bold>Main Outcome Measure(s): </bold>Hormonal environment and clinical outcome were investigated. Expression of ER and PR mRNA were evaluated by StepOne real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.<bold>Result(s): </bold>Total hMG/FSH levels were statistically higher in patients with endometriosis; however, high-quality embryo rates and pregnancy rates were lower in patients with endometriosis than in patients with tubal infertility. Expression of PR-A and ER-α in patients with endometriosis was statistically higher than in patients with tubal infertility. The expression of PRs and ERs in patients with tubal infertility showed a positive correlation; however, it was not identified in the endometriosis group.<bold>Conclusion(s): </bold>The higher PR-A and ER-α gene expression in granulosa cells in patients with endometriosis, compared with patients with tubal infertility, might be a leading cause of ovarian dysfunction due to endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]