Expression of messenger RNA for estrogen Receptor subtypes in uterine leiomyomas

Purpose To study relations between the expression of estrogen receptor(ER) subtypes and uterine leiomyomas. Methods Sxity patients with uterine leiomyomas,among them 32 cases were under 48 years old,28 cases were over 48 years old. Leiomyoma tissue samples were collected to be objective group,whereas myometrium tissue samples were collected to be control group. Expression of mRNA for ER subtypes was studied by using the technique of nonradioactive in situ hybridization(ISH). Results Expression of mRNA for ER-α in leiomyomas was higher than that in myometrium. The expression of ER-β in leiomyomas was lower than that in myometrium. In leiomyomas,the expression of mRNA for ER-α among higher age group shown decreasing trend by comparison with that among lower age group,whereas the expression of mRNA for ER-β shown increasing trend. Conclusions In addition to the increase in ERα mRNA expression,the decrease in ERβ mRNA expression may also be related to the development of leiomyoma. Both the decreasing trend of ERα mRNA expression and the increasing trend of ERβ mRNA expression may be related to atrophy of uterine leiomyomas.