UTERINE AND OVARIAN ESTROGEN RECEPTOR LEVELS IN CLIMACTERIC WOMEN

Abstract

High affinity cytoplasmic estrogen receptors in the endometrium, myometrium and ovary of 15 climacteric women were studied. In addition, the concurrent serum estradiol and progesterone level of each woman was estimated and the endometrium examined histologically. The cytoplasmic estrogen receptor level of the endometrium and myometrium had remained extremely high in some cases several years after the menopause and in the presence of a completely atrophied endometrium. The lowest endometrial and myometrial estrogen receptor levels in premenopausal women were measured towards the end of the menstrual cycle. The endometrial estrogen receptor level was roughly 2-3 times the comparable myometrial level. Estrogen receptors were also encountered in all cases in the cervical myometrium. The estrogen receptor levels of the ovary were low in all cases.