The role of Urocortin in Leiomyoma

Aim: To investigate the role of urocortin in the ethiopathogenesis of leiomyomas by comparing leiomyomas and normal myometrial tissue.Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with leiomyoma and 15 patients with uterine prolapsus indication for hysterectomy who applied to Celal Bayar University Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology Department were enrolled in the study. Leiomyoma tissue (leiomyoma indication group), normal myometrium tissue ( all patients) and ovarian tissue (patients with salphingooferectomy) were stained immunohysochemically for UK and UKR. Immunoreactivity was scored as negative, weak, mild and strong positive.Results: When compared to normal (PL+OVARY) similar stainig was observed in the leiomyoma group (LM+OVARY). Staining was heterogenous, obvious in vascular walls and also present in stroma. There was a basal stainig in the control group (LM-MM and PL+MM) and localised in the vessel walls. Staining was dense and distinct in the LM+MM group. Morphometric analysis also showed significant difference in the LM+MM group (p<0,05).Conclusion: The increase of these proteins in leiomyomas indicate that they may be related to tumorigenesis and the localisation in the vessel walls points out the possibility of a role in tumor angiogenesis. Further studies comparing agressive tumors like leiomyosarcomas and leiomyomas are needed to establish an association between growth factors and urocortins and their receptors.Key words: leiomyoma, urocortin, urocortin receptor