[Correlation between epidermal growth factor receptor messenger RNA expression and the onset of labor].

OBJECTIVE

To study the correlation between epidermal growth factor receptor messenger RNA expression and the onset of labor.

METHOD: Semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, using GAPDH as internal standard, was applied to determine the levels of epidermal growth factor receptor messenger RNA in human myometrium (n = 20) and fetal membranes (n = 20) before and during labor.

RESULTS

In myometrium, epidermal growth factor receptor messenger RNA increased from 0.91 +/- 0.32 before labor to 1.33 +/- 0.23 after the onset of labor (P < 0.05). In fetal membranes, epidermal growth factor receptor messenger RNA increased from 1.05 +/- 0.30 before labor to 1.65 +/- 0.71 after the onset of labor (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The study indicates it is Up-regulation of epidermal growth factor receptors messenger RNA expression in myometrium and fetal membrane before and after the onset of labor.