Expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor in human epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

We have previously demonstrated the presence of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in epithelial ovarian carcinoma. In this study, the expression of Gn-RH receptor (Gn-RHR) was investigated in human ovarian carcinoma and human ovarian carcinoma cell line. Gn-RHR was determined by [3H]Gn-RH binding assay. Gn-RHR mRNA was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using oligonucleotide primers synthesized based on published human Gn-RHR sequence. Specific Gn-RH binding sites were shown to be present in plasma membrane isolated from five ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma samples and one serous cystadenocarcinoma (Kd = 15.3 +/- 8.08 nmol/L). Gn-RHR mRNA was detected in four mucinous cystadenocarcinoma specimens, one serous cystadenocarcinoma, and SK-OV-3 cells, but not in white blood cells. These results suggest that Gn-RH may play an autocrine regulatory role in the growth of ovarian carcinoma.