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CAVEAT LECTOR
CORTICOTROPIN RELEASING HORMONE (CRH) IN NORMAL AND PREGNANT UTERUS: PHYSIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
Zoumakis E, Makrigiannakis A, Margioris A, Stournaras C, Gravanis ADepartments of Pharmacology, Clinical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Medical School, University of Crete, Iraklion 71110, Greece
Received 11/2/95; Accepted 12/14/95; On-line1/1/96
5. CRH IN REPRODUCTIVE TISSUES
5.1 Testes
Many investigators have shown that ir-CRH is present in the testis of several animal species, including humans (27,28) and is localized in Leydig and germ cells and in spermatozoa (29). Testicular CRH acts via specific receptors to exert autocrine inhibitory actions on Leydig cell steroidogenesis (29,30). In the rat testis, CRH acts as an antireproductive hormone and as a major local inhibitory regulator of Leydig cell function. Meanwhile, recently published data demonstrate that in mouse Leydig cells CRH exerts stimulatory effects on steroidogenesis (31).
5.2 Ovaries
The human ovary is another tissue where CRH and its receptors are also present (32,33). Ir-CRH is localized in thecal cells surrounding the ovarian follicles, in luteinized cells of the stroma and in a number of cells within the corpora lutea. It is also detected in the follicular fluid. Additionally, CRH receptors are found in the theca and stroma cells surrounding the follicles and on cumulus oophorus. The physiological significance of ovarian CRH is still unknown. However, it is postulated that it might play an important role in inflammatory-like phenomena (ovulation, luteolysis) and/or steroidogenesis taking place in the female gonad.