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

Objective: To assess the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for estrogen receptors alpha and beta 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 alpha were present in all samples of vaginal walls (16/16) and uterosacral ligaments (16/16). Estrogen receptor beta 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 beta 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 alpha and beta were expressed in the vaginal walls and uterosacral ligaments of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Estrogen receptor beta was absent from the vaginal walls of postmenopausal women. (Fertil Steril(R) 1999;71.1099-1102. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).