Expression of oestrogen receptor alpha and mRNA in corpus luteum of human subjects

Abstract

To investigate the role of oestrogen receptor β (ERβ) in the function of human ovarian corpus luteum, the levels of luteal ERα and ERβ mRNA were determined using competitive reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction-Southern blot analysis. The expression of ERα and ERβ mRNA was detected in all luteal samples analysed. Luteal ERα and ERβ mRNA levels were significantly lower (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively) at the late secretory phase than those at the early and mid-secretory phases of the endometrium. The ratio of ERα to ERβ mRNA levels showed no change during the secretory phase of the endometrium. This study demonstrates that ERβ is co-expressed with ERα in human corpus luteum and is likely to play a biological role in the regulation of steroidal action of the corpus luteum with ERα.