Abstract
BackgroundThe importance of surface epithelium and epithelial inclusion cysts in the ovary arises from studies demonstrating that these structures are susceptible to epithelial ovarian cancer development. The expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha), androgen receptor (AR), in epithelial cells of the ovary from premenopausal and postmenopausal women is interesting because sexual steroid hormones are involved in cell growth and differentiation.MethodsThe presence of ER alpha, AR, and the orphan G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) was demonstrated by immunofluorescence in ovaries obtained from 79 pre and postmenopausal patients, undergoing histero-salpingo-oophorectomy for proliferative gynecological diseases. The proportion of patients that displayed positive reaction for estrogen and androgen receptors in epithelial cells of the ovary was evaluated according to menopausal status and associated pathology.ResultsThe proportion of patients that displayed a positive receptor expression in the epithelial cells of the ovarian surface and cortical inclusion cysts shows that ER alpha is present in 20 of 79 patients (0.25), AR in 33 of 79 (0.42) and GPR30 in 38 of 55 (0.69). There are no differences in ER alpha, AR, and GPR30 expression between pre and postmenopausal patients and considering the associated pathology, proportions for ER alpha and GPR30 are similar. The patients with cervical cancer show a higher proportion of AR expression in epithelial cells of the ovary, which is statistically significant (P < 0.01) compared with patients with other proliferative diseases.ConclusionsThe presence of ER alpha, AR, and GPR30 in the surface epithelial ovarian cells and its derivatives are observed with a proportion that is specific for each receptor. The proportion of expression for these receptors in the epithelial cells of the ovary does not change after menopause. The proportion of ovaries with AR positive epithelial cells in patients with cervical squamous carcinoma is higher compared with other gynecological pathologies.
Highlights
The human ovary presents important changes after the fourth decade of life; the number of follicles that are recruited increases in the menopausal transition, the production of estrogens is erratic and the level of progesterone is diminished [1,2,3]
Epithelial inclusion cysts could be visualized in the cortical region; the origin of these inclusion cysts in the ovary has been related to invaginations of the surface epithelium or to ruptures of the surface epithelium during ovulation [6]
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of ER alpha, androgen receptor (AR), and G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) in the ovarian surface epithelium and epithelial inclusion cysts in apparently normal ovaries from premenopausal and postmenopausal women
Summary
The human ovary presents important changes after the fourth decade of life; the number of follicles that are recruited increases in the menopausal transition, the production of estrogens is erratic and the level of progesterone is diminished [1,2,3]. Epithelial inclusion cysts could be visualized in the cortical region; the origin of these inclusion cysts in the ovary has been related to invaginations of the surface epithelium or to ruptures of the surface epithelium during ovulation [6]. Epithelial cells from the Fallopian tubes may originate inclusion cysts after being implanted into the ovary, as suggested by the occasional presence of ciliated and secretory cells in cortical cyst [7]. The importance of surface epithelium and epithelial inclusion cysts arises from studies demonstrating that these structures eventually presented dysplastic precursor lesions and are susceptible to develop epithelial ovarian cancer [8,9]. The importance of surface epithelium and epithelial inclusion cysts in the ovary arises from studies demonstrating that these structures are susceptible to epithelial ovarian cancer development. The expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha), androgen receptor (AR), in epithelial cells of the ovary from premenopausal and postmenopausal women is interesting because sexual steroid hormones are involved in cell growth and differentiation
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