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The G-Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor (GPER) is Expressed in Normal Human Ovaries and is Upregulated in Ovarian Endometriosis and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Involving the Ovary

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Abstract

Estrogens play a crucial role in maintaining ovarian function. Deregulation of estrogen signals is associated with fertility-impairing disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) is present in the human ovary. Additionally, we analyzed the folliculogenesis and ovarian endometriosis in GPER expression. Seventy-nine patients (ovarian endometriosis, n = 26; ovarian pelvic inflammatory disease [PID], n = 10; normal ovaries/endometrium, n = 30/13) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Normal ovaries were also assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and double immunofluorescence. The most intense expression of GPER was noted in the ovarian surface epithelium. Theca cells and oocytes were also significantly positive. Expression of GPER was more frequent in mature follicles/oocytes than in primordial ones, implying that GPER could be a selector during folliculogenesis. Moreover, GPER was upregulated in ovarian endometriosis and PID. Overexpression of GPER in both inflammation and endometriosis affecting the ovary may prove useful in explaining/predicting the main endometriosis-related symptoms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Campus Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Maistrasse 11, 80337, Munich, Germany

    Sabine Heublein MSc, Miriam Lenhard MD, Thomas Vrekoussis MD, PhD, Christina Kuhn, Klaus Friese MD & Udo Jeschke PhD

  2. Department of Legal Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Jutta Schoepfer MD

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece

    Antonis Makrigiannakis MD, PhD

  4. Department of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Doris Mayr MD

Authors
  1. Sabine Heublein MSc
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  2. Miriam Lenhard MD
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  3. Thomas Vrekoussis MD, PhD
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  4. Jutta Schoepfer MD
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  5. Christina Kuhn
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  6. Klaus Friese MD
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  7. Antonis Makrigiannakis MD, PhD
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  8. Doris Mayr MD
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  9. Udo Jeschke PhD
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Correspondence to Udo Jeschke PhD.

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Heublein, S., Lenhard, M., Vrekoussis, T. et al. The G-Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor (GPER) is Expressed in Normal Human Ovaries and is Upregulated in Ovarian Endometriosis and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Involving the Ovary. Reprod. Sci. 19, 1197–1204 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719112446085

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