[Expression of estrogen receptor alpha and beta subtypes in the vaginal wall of women with anterior vaginal prolapse].

OBJECTIVE:To observe the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and ERbeta in the vaginal wall of women with anterior vaginal prolapse, and to investigate the relationships of ER subtypes with the development of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). METHODS:Seven premenopausal women and 33 postmenopausal women with anterior vaginal prolapse who underwent surgery in our hospital from July 1999 to July 2004 were analyzed. Nine premenopausal and 8 postmenopausal women with squamous carcinoma of cervix who underwent surgery served as controls. The expression of ERalpha and ERbeta in squamous epithelium (SE), lamina propria (LP) and muscular layer (ML) of anterior vaginal wall were studied by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS:(1) Both ERalpha and ERbeta were expressed in SE, LP, ML of vaginal wall of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. (2) The expression of ERalpha was not significantly different in premenopausal and postmenopausal women; the expression of ERbeta was not significantly different in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with POP; however, it was decreased in postmenopausal women without POP (P < 0.05). (3) The expression of ERbeta was significantly higher in postmenopausal POP group than in postmenopausal control group (P < 0.05). The expression of ERalpha was not significantly different in postmenopausal control and postmenopausal POP group. CONCLUSIONS:ERalpha and ERbeta are expressed in vaginal wall of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. In vaginal wall of postmenopausal women with POP, the expression of ERbeta is not decreased; on the contrary, it is increased compared with that of postmenopausal control. ERalpha is not changed significantly.