Abstract: Objective Expressions of estrogen receptor α(ERα),β(ERβ)and insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ(IGF-Ⅰ)were observed to elucidate their roles in the pathogenesis of leiomyoma.Methods Twenty one leiomyomal and six paired myometrial tissues from patients at the proliferative phase were included in the study.The mRNAlevels of ERα,ERβ and IGF-1 mRNA in leiomyoma and adjacent myometrium were determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.Results All tissues showed a higher ERα expression level.The correlation between ERα mRNA and IGF-Ⅰ mRNA levels was significant(r=0.527,P=0.014).The correlation between ERβ mRNA and IGF-1mRNA levels was also positive,but the statics was not significant.In six paired leiomyoma and myometrium,the levels of ERα and ERβ mRNA exhibited no difference,but IGF-Ⅰ mRNA levels elavated significantly in leiomyoma when compared with paired myometrium(P<0.05).Conclusion The expression of IGF-Ⅰ mRNA increases in leiomyoma,and ERα mRNA is positively correlated with IGF-Ⅰ mRNA which implies that estrogen unregulate the IGF-Igene through ERα in leiomyoma.

Key words: ERα mRNA, ERβ mRNA, IGF-Ⅰ mRNA, uterus, leiomyoma