Detection of testosterone and estrogen receptors in the postmenopausal endometrium

Objective: To detect the presence of testosterone and estrogen receptors in the stroma and glandular epithelium in the malignant and non-malignant end ometrium. Methods: One hundred and forty-five consecutively-enrolled peri- or postmenopausal patients were submitted to diagnostic or operative hyster oscopy. These patients either had a history of abnormal uterine bleeding or they were asymptomatic with an endometrial echo greater than 4 mm. The pre sence of estrogen and testosterone receptors was determined in endometrial samples by immunohistochemistry, using monoclonal antibodies and a streptav idin-biotin peroxidase complex system with diamino benzidine as the chromog en. Results: Testosterone receptors were detected mainly in the stroma in t he non-malignant endometrial lesions and in the atypical glandular epitheli um in cases of estrogen-positive endometrial carcinomas. Conclusions: The p resence of testosterone receptors in estrogen receptor positive endometrial carcinomas may be involved in the mechanism of cell proliferation in these tumors. The strong staining reaction for testosterone receptors in the end ometrial glands can be considered one of the features of invasive malignanc y. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.