IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF DISTRIBUTION OF ESTROGEN-RECEPTORS AND PROGESTERONE RECEPTORS IN THE POSTMENOPAUSAL ENDOMETRIUM

Objective. To examine the expression of sex steroid receptors (ER: est rogen receptor; PR: progesterone receptor) in the postmenopausal endom etrium (PMEM) and the relationship to clinical data for studying its c haracters. Methods. The immunohistochemical reactivity of the PMEM was studied using monoclonal antibodies against ER and PR, in 33 postmeno pausal patients. Results. The endometrium was thicker in patients who were postmenopausal for 1 to 10 years (1.48+/-1.31mm) than in patients who were postmenopausal for more than 10 years (0.79+/-0.37mm) (p<0.0 5). Among the 33 postmenopausal endometrial samples, ER positivity was found in the glands in 26 cases (78.8%) and PR positivity was detecte d in 18 cases (54.5%). The average age of the patients with ER positiv e reactivity in the glands (61.69+/-7.26 years) was significantly lowe r than that of the patients with ER negative reactivity (66.00+/-3.56 years) (p<0.05). Furthermore, the endometrial thickness of the patient s with ER or PR positive reactivity in the glands (1.24+/-1.09mm and 1 .47+/-1.20mm, respectively) was significantly greater than that of the patients with ER or PR negative reactivity (0.67+/-0.26mm and 0.70+/- 0.40mm, respectively) (p<0.05). Conclusion. ER in the glands of the PM EM was determined to decrease gradually with increased aging. The pres ence of ER and PR in the gland cells seemed likely to determine the th ickness of the PMEM.