Effect of aging on populations of estrogen receptor-containing cells in the rat uterus.
Estrogen receptor-containing cells were identified in uteri of mature and senescent rats by means of quantitative autoradiography. Cell numbers and density were assessed in the various uterine layers. It was determined that despite decreases in receptor concentrations in endometrium, endometrial stroma, myometrium, and epithelium, no significant cell loss occurred in any region. Receptor content per cell clearly decreased with age in the endometrial stroma, while only in the myometrium was there any suggestion of cell loss in the absence of receptor loss from individual cells. Thus, age-related reductions in uterine estradiol receptor levels may be due to different mechanisms in different tissue regions.
Han
Z
Z
Molecular Physiology and Genetics Section, Francis Scott Key Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21224.
Kokkonen
G C
GC
Roth
G S
GS
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D004717:Endometrium / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000032:analysis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D009215:Myometrium / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000166:cytology
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D004958:Estradiol