OBJECTIVE: To measure the plasma level of urocortin and the placenta expression of its receptor corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor (CRHR)-2 in the patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). METHODS: This study enrolled 20 patients with ICP and 20 normal pregnant women (control group). The plasma level of urocortin at different gestational age (34-37 weeks) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the placenta expression of CRHR-2 was investigated by immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: The plasma urocortin levels at different gestational age in normal pregnany were (79.47 +/- 11.35) pg/mL at 34 weeks, (83.00 +/- 12.67) pg/mL at 35 weeks, (80.28 +/- 11.48) pg/mL at 36 weeks, and (84.24 +/- 13.62) pg/mL at 37 weeks, respectively. No upward tendency was observed along with the increase of gestational age (F= 0.67, P>0.05). Compared with normal pregnany, ICP patients had novel down trend of the plasma urocortin levels (F = 6.78, P<0.05), which were (68.53 +/- 16.95) pg/mL at 34 weeks, (64. 19+22. 50) pg/mL at 35 weeks, (50.06 +/- 13.98) pg/mL at 36 weeks, (47.91 +/- 15.65) pg/mL at 37 weeks, CRHR-2 staining was found in syncytiotrophoblast and feto-placental vascular endothelium cells of placenta, and there was no statistical differences found for integral optical density value of CRHR-2 staining between control (101.09 +/- 27.21) and ICP (111.83 +/- 35.02) groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The urocortin-mediated stress compensation insufficiency may be involved in the fetal outcomes in ICP.
OBJECTIVE: To measure the plasma level of urocortin and the placenta expression of its receptor corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor (CRHR)-2 in the patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). METHODS: This study enrolled 20 patients with ICP and 20 normal pregnant women (control group). The plasma level of urocortin at different gestational age (34-37 weeks) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the placenta expression of CRHR-2 was investigated by immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: The plasma urocortin levels at different gestational age in normal pregnany were (79.47 +/- 11.35) pg/mL at 34 weeks, (83.00 +/- 12.67) pg/mL at 35 weeks, (80.28 +/- 11.48) pg/mL at 36 weeks, and (84.24 +/- 13.62) pg/mL at 37 weeks, respectively. No upward tendency was observed along with the increase of gestational age (F= 0.67, P>0.05). Compared with normal pregnany, ICP patients had novel down trend of the plasma urocortin levels (F = 6.78, P<0.05), which were (68.53 +/- 16.95) pg/mL at 34 weeks, (64. 19+22. 50) pg/mL at 35 weeks, (50.06 +/- 13.98) pg/mL at 36 weeks, (47.91 +/- 15.65) pg/mL at 37 weeks, CRHR-2 staining was found in syncytiotrophoblast and feto-placental vascular endothelium cells of placenta, and there was no statistical differences found for integral optical density value of CRHR-2 staining between control (101.09 +/- 27.21) and ICP (111.83 +/- 35.02) groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The urocortin-mediated stress compensation insufficiency may be involved in the fetal outcomes in ICP.