CHANGES IN THE CONCENTRATIONS OF RECEPTORS OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR-I, EPITHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR, ESTROGENS AND PROGESTAGENS IN ADENOMYOSIS FOCI, ENDOMETRIUM AND MYOMETRIUM OF WOMEN DURING MENSTRUAL-CYCLE

Concentrations of receptors of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I-R), epithelial growth factor (EGF-R), oestrogen (ER), and progesterone (P R) in the adenomyosis foci, endometrium and myometrium of women during the menstrual cycle were studied. Cell membrane levels of IGF-I-R and EGFR, cytosol and nuclear oestrogen (ERc and ERn, respectively) and c ytosol progesterone (PRc) receptors were assayed in 37 samples of aden omyosis foci, 46 of endometrium and 50 of myometrium using the radioli gand method. It was found that concentrations of ER and PR in all stud ied tissues were significantly higher in the proliferative phase than in the secretory phases. In the endometrium a similar difference conce rned only the ERn but not the ERc. Adenomyosis foci as compared to end ometrium and myometrium showed the highest ERn and PRc concentrations during the proliferative and secretory phase. Adenomyosis foci and myo metrium contained significantly higher concentrations of IGF-I-R in th e proliferative phase than in the secretory phase. In the endometrium a menstrual cycle-related difference in concentration of IGF-I-R was n ot significant. In the endometrium however the concentration of EGF-R was over twice as high in the proliferative phase than in the secretor y phase. No significant difference in the concentrations of EGF-R in a denomyosis foci and in myometrium during the menstrual cycle was noted . The findings show that changes in regulation of the concentrations o f IGF-I-R, EGF-R, ER and PR in the uterus of women during menstrual cy cles are related to the tissular localization of these receptors.