Correlation between estrogen receptor alpha expression, collagen content and stiffness in human uterine arteries.

Abstract

To investigate the relationship between estrogen receptor alpha expression, collagen content and distensibility of the human uterine artery. Uterine arteries (n = 13) obtained from women undergoing hysterectomy were mounted for length-tension relations and thereafter frozen for later determination of collagen and estrogen receptor alpha contents. A negative correlation between estrogen receptor alpha content and collagen content (r = -0.76, n = 13) and a positive correlation between collagen content and passive tension at 1.4 Lo (r = 0.72, n = 13) in the uterine artery were detected. No difference was found between pre- and postmenopausal women concerning the estrogen receptor alpha content, the collagen content or maximal active force. Our data show a functional correlate to the expression of estrogen receptors alpha, as a high content of estrogen receptor alpha correlates with a lower collagen concentration, indicating that estrogen through activation of estrogen receptor alpha protects against vascular collagen accumulation making the vessel more distensible.