Human fallopian tube expresses granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and GM-CSF alpha and beta receptors and contain immunoreactive GM-CSF protein.

Using specific primers, 35S-40mer oligonucleotide probe and monoclonal antibody, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical observations respectively revealed that human fallopian tube expresses granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mRNA and protein, as well as GM-CSF alpha and beta receptors mRNA. The RT-PCR products revealed the predicted 286, 546 and 380 bp fragments for GM-CSF, GM-CSF alpha receptor and GM-CSF beta receptor respectively, which were further verified by restriction enzyme digestion analysis. Tubal epithelial cells in the ampullary and isthmus regions (ciliated and nonciliated) are the primary site of GM-CSF mRNA expression and its immunoreactive gene product, and present to a lesser extent in tubal stromal, smooth muscle, and arterial endothelial and smooth muscle cells. The in situ hybridization and immunostaining observations indicated that the expression of GM-CSF mRNA and protein appeared to be cycle dependent and considerably higher during mid-late proliferative and early-mid secretory, than early proliferative and reduced at late secretory phases of the menstrual cycle and postmenopausal period. The results demonstrate for the first time that human fallopian tube expresses GM-CSF and its alpha and beta receptors mRNA and contains the immunoreactive gene product for GM-CSF, and may be potentially regulated by ovarian steroids. The results imply the importance of GM-CSF in a variety of tubal functions and possibly the early embryonic development.