Vaginal-cervical epithelial permeability decreases after menopause

Objective: To determine the effects of menopause (aging and E) on vaginal-c ervical epithelial paracellular permeability. Design: Experimental, basic clinical research. Setting: Academic research environment. Patient(s): Premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women, aged 3 5-65 years. Intervention(s): Primary to tertiary cultures of normal human ectocervical epithelial cells on filters. Cells were outgrown from surgically discarded ectocervical minces. Main Outcome Measurement(s): Changes in paracellular permeability were dete rmined as changes in transepithelial electrical conductance and pyranine pe rmeability. Result(s): [1] Levels of transepithelial electrical conductance and pyranin e permeability decreased as women's age advanced. [2] Removal of E from the culture medium decreased paracellular permeability. Treatment of cells in vitro with 10 nmol/L 17 beta -E-2 increased transepithelial electrical cond uctance and pyranine permeability, but the effects were additive to the age -related decrease in permeability. [3] Coadministration of 100 nmol/L tamox ifen blocked the E increase in paracellular permeability in cells of both p remenopausal and postmenopausal women. Conclusion(s): [1] Aging and E deficiency decrease independently vaginal-ce rvical epithelial paracellular permeability. [2) The E increase in vaginal- cervical epithelial paracellular permeability in cells of postmenopausal wo men is mediated by the E receptor. [3] The E increase in vaginal-cervical e pithelial paracellular permeability in cells of postmenopausal women is mas ked by age-related increase in the tight junctional resistance, leading to overall decrease in paracellular permeability. (Fertil Steril(R) 2001;76:75 3-61. ((C) 2001 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).