Total and unbound cytosolic estrogen and progesterone receptors in myometrium and fibroid after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To study the changes in bound and unbound cytosolic estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in fibroid and myometrium after treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a).


METHODS
Prospective randomized study.


METHODS
A tertiary institutional hospital.


METHODS
Thirty premenopausal women with normal regular menstrual cycles and uterine fibroids.


METHODS
Patients were randomized to receive buserelin acetate for 3 months (n = 20) or no treatment (n = 10) before hysterectomy.


METHODS
Bound and unbound ER and PR.


RESULTS
In nontreated women, values of unbound ER and PR in fibroid were higher than in myometrium. There were no differences in total receptors. The total and unbound ER in myometrium was higher in treated than in nontreated women. There were no differences in fibroid.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher content of unbound hormone receptors in fibroid correlates with an exacerbation of the hormone dependence of this tissue compared with myometrium. The increase of total and unbound ER in myometrium after treatment suggests a higher level of synthesis or a lower level of degradation of receptors in this tissue.
Ciutat Sanitària i Universitària de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
M E
ME
Fernández-Montolí
O
O
Díez-Gibert
J M
JM
Samaniego
L
L
Balagueró
M A
MA
Navarro
D000328:Adult; D002064:Buserelin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000737:chemistry; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D017697:Premenopause; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002064:Buserelin