Estrogen receptor α and β expression in the vaginal walls and uterosacral ligaments of premenopausal and postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective: To assess the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for estrogen receptors α and β in the vaginal walls and uterosacral ligaments of premenopausal 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 ligaments were obtained during hysterectomy. Main Outcome Measure(s): Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis for estrogen receptor mRNA. Result(s): Messenger RNA transcripts for estrogen receptor α were present in all samples of vaginal walls (16/16) and uterosacral ligaments (16/16). Estrogen receptor β 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 β mRNA was found in most samples of uterosacral ligaments from premenopausal women (10/12) and in some of those from postmenopausal women (2/4). Conclusion(s): Estrogen receptors α and β were expressed in the vaginal walls and uterosacral ligaments of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Estrogen receptor β was absent from the vaginal walls of postmenopausal women.