Objective To measure the plasma level of urocortin and the placenta expression of its receptor corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor (CRHR)-2 in the patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). Methods This study enrolled 20 patients with ICP and 20 normal pregnant women (control group).The plasma level of urocortin at different gestational age (34-37 weeks) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the placenta expression of CRHR-2 was investigated by immunohistochemical technique. Results The plasma urocortin levels at different gestational age in normal pregnany were (79.47±11.35) pg/mL at 34 weeks, (83.00±12.67) pg/mL at 35 weeks, (80.28±11.48) pg/mL at 36 weeks,and (84.24±13.62) pg/mL at 37 weeks, respectively.No upward tendency was observed along with the increase of gestational age (\F=0.67, \P>0.05).Compared with normal pregnany, ICP patients had novel down trend of the plasma urocortin levels (\F=6.78, \P<0.05), which were (68.53±16.95) pg/mL at 34 weeks, (64.19±22.50) pg/mL at 35 weeks, (50.06±13.98) pg/mL at 36 weeks, (47.91±15.65) pg/mL at 37 weeks,CRHR-2 staining was found in syncytiotrophoblast and feto-placental vascular endothelium cells of placenta, and there was no statistical differences found for integral optical density value of CRHR-2 staining between control (101.09±27.21) and ICP (111.83±35.02) groups (\P>0.05). Conclusion The urocortin-mediated stress compensation insufficiency may be involved in the fetal outcomes in ICP.
