Estrogen receptor alpha and beta expression in the vaginal walls and uterosacral ligaments of premenopausal and postmenopausal women

Objective: To assess the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for estrogen re ceptors alpha and beta in the vaginal walls and uterosacral ligaments of pr emenopausal and postmenopausal women. Design: In vitro experiment. Setting: Academic research environment. Patient(s): Sixteen consecutively seen women who underwent hysterectomy. Intervention(s): Samples of anterior vaginal walls and uterosacral ligament s were obtained during hysterectomy. Main Outcome Measure(s): Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction an alysis for estrogen receptor mRNA. Result(s): Messenger RNA transcripts for estrogen receptor alpha were prese nt in all samples of vaginal walls (16/16) and uterosacral ligaments (16/16 ). Estrogen receptor beta mRNA was detected in all samples of vaginal walls from premenopausal women (12/12) but in none of those from postmenopausal women (0/4). Estrogen receptor beta mRNA was found in most samples of utero sacral ligaments from premenopausal women (10/12) and in some of those from postmenopausal women (2/4). Conclusion(s): Estrogen receptors alpha and beta were expressed in the vagi nal walls and uterosacral ligaments of premenopausal and postmenopausal wom en. Estrogen receptor beta was absent from the vaginal walls of postmenopau sal women. (Fertil Steril(R) 1999;71.1099-1102. (C) 1999 by American Societ y for Reproductive Medicine.).