The effect of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device on human endometrial oestrogen and progesterone receptors after one year of use.
Thirty-four women bearing a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device, 20 micrograms/day (LNG-IUD-20), for 12-15 months were recruited. Endometrial biopsies were collected during the late proliferative phase of the cycle (on cycle days 10-12) before (control) and after the use of the IUD for 12 months, and assayed for oestrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR). An immunohistochemical technique with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase detection system (PAP method) was employed. D75 and JZB39 were the primary antibodies for ER and PR respectively. The immunostaining semiquantitative analysis was performed with a computerized microscope image processor, and expressed as 'grey value'. Both endometrial ER and PR populations were significantly lower after insertion of the IUD (P < 0.01) than in control biopsies. The intensity of nuclear staining and the percentage of positively stained cells for ER and PR in women with LNG-IUD were each about 50% of those in control biopsies. The results suggested that LNG released locally from the IUD has a depressive action on the ER and PR, which may contribute to the contraceptive effectiveness of this type of IUD and also to the possible causes of LNG-IUD-induced irregular bleeding and amenorrhoea.
Zhu
P
P
National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.
Liu
X
X
Luo
H
H
Gu
Z
Z
Cheng
J
J
Xu
R
R
Lian
S
S
Wu
S
S
Wang
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D016912:Levonorgestrel