Progesterone and estradiol receptors in the cytosol of the human uterine artery.
The binding of progesterone and estradiol to their specific cytoplasmic receptors was studied in cytosols of uterine arteries from 33 women undergoing hysterectomy. Twenty-five patients were premenopausal and one of them was pregnant. The regularly menstruating women were operated on at different phases of the menstrual cycle. Eight patients were postmenopausal with their last menstruation 4 to 30 years ago. Both progesterone and estradiol receptor concentrations were highest during the follicular phase. Decline in both receptors was observed during the early luteal phase, and this decline coincided with the luteal rise of serum progesterone. Significant correlations between steroid receptors and serum estradiol and progesterone levels were not found. The highest amounts of both receptors were found in the youngest patients. The concentrations decreased with age to undetectable levels. The decrease in progesterone receptor concentration after the menopause was statistically significant. Myometrial biopsies were taken as control material from eight women. No association could be observed between myometrial and arterial receptor concentrations.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001158:Arteries; D003600:Cytosol / Q000032:analysis*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011959:Receptors, Estradiol; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*
D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D011959:Receptors, Estradiol; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol