Expression of sex hormone-binding globulin and corticosteroid-binding globulin mRNAs in corpus luteum of human subjects.

To understand the biology of sex steroids in human ovarian corpus luteum, the expression of intracellular sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) mRNAs as a manifestation of intracellular SHBG and CBG expression was determined. The expression of SHBG and CBG mRNAs was detected in all samples analyzed. Luteal SHBG mRNA level showed no significant change during the endometrial secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. On the other hand, luteal CBG mRNA level was significantly higher (p < 0.05) at the mid-secretory phase than that at the early and late secretory phases of the endometrium. These findings suggest that human ovarian corpus luteum synthesizes SHBG and CBG intracellularly, CBG being plausibly involved in the functional life span of corpus luteum.