Steroid receptors ERa, ERß, PR-A and PR-B are differentially expressed in normal and atrophic human endometrium

Abstract

Objective: The endometrium expresses estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), which are related to autocrine and paracrine processes that respond to estrogen and progesterone. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution pattern of ERa, ERß, PR-A and PR-B with monoclonal antibodies in normal human endometrial tissue. Study Design: Human endometrial tissue was obtained from 84 premenopausal and 11 postmenopausal patients and immunohistochemically analysed with monoclonal antibodies against ERa, ERß, PR-A and PR-B. Results: ERa, PR-A and PR-B declined significantly (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.05 respectively) in glandular epithelium from proliferative to late secretory phase. The ERß immunohistochemical reaction showed a similar significant declining pattern (p<0.05), although the staining intensity was lower than that of ERa. While ERa, ERß and PR-B decrease significantly in atrophic endometrial tissue compared to proliferative endometrium, a significant up-regulation of PR-A was observed compared to late secretory phase (p<0.05). Conclusion: ERa, ERß, PR-A and PR-B were expressed in normal human endometrium with a cyclical variation during the menstrual cycle. In normal postmenopausal endometrial tissue, a down-regulation of ERa, ERß and PR-B occurs with a subsequent higher expression of PRA. These results show the presence of steroid receptors in human epithelium, indicating that these cells respond to estrogen and progesterone, thus playing a significant role in endometrial physiology.