Quantitative histomorphometric analysis of gonadal steroid receptor distribution in the normal human endometrium through the menstrual cycle

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the distribution of oestrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) and androgen receptor (AR) are related to cell proliferation or correlated with the expression of progesterone receptor (PR) or oestrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) in the normal human endometrium. Immunohistochemical distribution of immunoreactive ERbeta in well-characterised menstrual cycle biopsy samples was lowest in proliferative endometrial glands, highest in early secretory phase glands and maintained at approximately 20% throughout the rest of the menstrual cycle and was closely correlated with stromal AR and stromal ERbeta expression. Stromal ERbeta was not significantly altered until the menstrual phase of the cycle and was not correlated with the expression of any other antigen in the stroma or endometrial glands except stromal AR. By contrast, glandular AR immunoreactivity was below 5% early in the cycle, increased during the secretory phase and showed strong expression just before menstruation. PR and Ki-67 expression showed strong positive correlations, indicating that PR may be a potent regulator of endometrial proliferation. These data suggest that glandular ERbeta expression is closely associated with a functional secretory role whereas glandular ERalpha and PR are associated with proliferation; glandular AR expression may be the switch required for menstruation.

Inhibition of Proliferation of Endometrial Stromal Cells by Trichostatin A, RU486, CDB-2914, N-Acetylcysteine, and ICI 182780

“…As seen in figure 1 , ER ␣ was expressed on all treated cells and untreated control cells while ER ␤ was only weakly expressed in all groups. This is consistent with the well-documented observation that ER ␤ is expressed predominantly in glandular epithelial cells [48] and that ER ␣ expression is higher than ER ␤ in endometrial stromal cells [48][49][50] , in the ratio of ϳ 16: 1 [51] . Based on studies on ER ␣ -and ER ␤ -knockout mice [52,53] , we concluded that this cell line is estrogenresponsive.…”

Histomorphometric evaluation of cannabinoid receptor and anandamide modulating enzyme expression in the human endometrium through the menstrual cycle

“…graphpad.com). Similar studies have previously demonstrated the validity of these methods for the study of antigen staining by immunohistochemistry (Taylor et al 2005Wahab et al 1999).…”

“…The pattern of distribution of the positively stained cells was recorded and the number of positively stained stromal and glandular epithelial cells per field assessed by the capture of 10 randomly selected fields per slide (Hamilton 1995). All fields evaluated for histomorphometric analyses were restricted to the functionalis layer and the percentage of positively stained cell was obtained by counting the number of positive (brown-stained) and negative (blue stained) cells in the field and the percentage positivity for the stromal and glands calculated separately (Taylor et al 2005Wahab et al 1999). Cell counting was performed using the Axiovision image capture and processing software with reference to the area of the image field and the scale made using a 2 mm/0.01 division measurement graticule (Graticules Ltd., Tonbridge, Kent, UK).…”

The histochemistry and cell biology vade mecum: a review of 2005–2006

“…Taylor et al (2005) have analyzed by immunohistochemistry the distribution of ER and androgen receptor (AR) in relation to cell proliferation and studied the correlation with the expression of progesterone receptor (PR) or ER in biopsies obtained from normal human endometrium. They found that glandular ER expression was associated with a functional secretory role, while glandular ER and PR associated with proliferation and glandular AR expression may be the switch required for menstruation.…”